A diligent prospective buyer helped Cheshire Police recover a stolen caravan last month.
The customer carried out checks on the caravan they had seen before agreeing to buy it. This included checking with the CRiS Registration scheme operated by the National Caravan Council.
As soon as this check was made, the vehicle was flagged as stolen.
Cheshire Police’s Rural Crime Team then raided an address in Warrington (not the one shown in the picture) and were able to recover the caravan. The incident highlights the importance of good caravan security, with possible options including the best caravan hitchlock, a tracker, and wheel clamps.
Police say they considered arresting the current keeper of the caravan on charges of handling stolen property.
But due to the specific circumstances and the length of time since the original theft, such an action was not considered proportionate or necessary at this stage.
Enquiries are, however, ongoing to establish the chain of ownership and so trace those ultimately responsible for the theft.
Cheshire Police say the incident highlights the need for caravan buyers to be vigilant and to carry out thorough checks before buying any high value items, in particular paying attention to any VIN numbers or security markings that don’t look right.
They say you should always be suspicious of any prices that seem too good to be true, and register caravans and equipment through recognised schemes like CRiS.
In other news, Knaus has shared information about its 2027 releases, which have seen the brand release a new range designed for caravanning in even the coldest climates.
Image: Cheshire Police Rural Crime Team
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