Lynette de Vries
5 februari 2025
How safe is my camper or caravan in Europe?
Theft of motorhomes and caravans is unfortunately a common problem in Europe. It can have a devastating effect on the owner, who can lose not only their vehicle, but also personal belongings and precious memories. In addition, the financial consequences can be significant. In this blog, we will look at the statistics and trends surrounding motorhome and caravan theft in Europe and discuss what you can do to protect your vehicle.
Statistics and trends
1. How safe is your camper or caravan in Europe?
According to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), there are no exact figures available on the number of stolen caravans and campers in Europe, due to the lack of uniform registration in the EU countries. This makes it difficult to keep accurate statistics.
Nevertheless, some EU countries have published data on the number of stolen campers and caravans. In the Netherlands, for example, more than 600 campers and caravans were stolen in 2021, while in Belgium almost 200 campers were stolen. Germany has the highest number of stolen campers and caravans, with more than 2,600 cases in 2020.
Germany:
The German Insurers’ Association reported a sharp increase in thefts of campers and caravans in Germany, especially in the coronavirus years: 11 out of every 10,000 caravans and campers were stolen in Germany in 2021, rising to 13 in 2022. This percentage was four times higher than for cars. In 2023, the theft of camping vehicles fell again to 9 per 10,000 camping vehicles. With a stock of 1.6 million caravans and campers in 2023, this would correspond to around 1,450 thefts. In terms of camping vehicles alone, the Federal Criminal Police reported in its Federal Vehicle Crime Report 2023 469 camping vehicles that were “permanently lost”, i.e. could not be found.
Netherlands:
In 2022, the number of stolen vehicles with a Dutch license plate in Europe increased by 35% compared to 2021. Only 12% of these were recovered. In the Netherlands, the number of thefts of camping equipment increased by around 4% in 2023 compared to 2022. This is a relatively small increase, especially considering that the number of stolen vehicles in the Netherlands fell by 12% in the same period. Of all stolen vehicles, 47% were recovered, while only 25% of stolen camping equipment was recovered.
Belgium:
In Belgium, almost 200 campers were stolen in 2021. Recent specific figures on thefts of camping equipment in Belgium are scarce. According to the Federal Police, a total of 271,388 acts of theft and extortion were registered in 2023, a slight increase of 1.4% compared to 2022. Although this figure includes all forms of theft, it emphasises the need for campers to remain vigilant and take precautions to protect their property.
Stolen vehicles rarely turn up, partly due to the vehicle identification number (TIN), a unique code in the chassis. This allows buyers to check whether a vehicle has been stolen. Nevertheless, stolen campers are often smuggled abroad, especially to Eastern Europe, where the TIN is less relevant.
It is clear that despite the popularity of camping, the risk of campervan and caravan theft remains in Europe. Owners are advised to take appropriate security measures and be aware of the risks, especially when travelling to areas with higher theft rates.
2. Travel with more peace of mind
Companies have been using GPS trackers for a long time, for example for journey registration. Thanks to this technology, stolen commercial vehicles are recovered relatively often. Now there is also a GPS tracker specially developed for campers and caravans: E-Track&Trace from E-Trailer. This smart tracker warns as soon as the camper leaves a preset safety zone. A safety zone is a virtual fence with which the user can demarcate a location, such as a camping site. As soon as the camper or caravan leaves this zone, the user immediately receives a notification on his or her smartphone and action can be taken immediately.
Good insurance also provides peace of mind. When taking out insurance, there are various requirements that you must meet to secure your camper, depending on the value of your camper. There are many options to meet the security requirements, all with advantages and disadvantages. We have already done some preliminary work and listed the advantages of the various security requirements in an overview. Also read this blog for an overview.
In the event of theft, criminals often try to locate and disable a possible GPS tracker as quickly as possible. This usually only happens after they have left the campsite and found a remote place to remove the tracker. Quick action is therefore crucial and significantly increases the chance of recovering the vehicle.
Thanks to its compact design, the GPS tracker can be mounted in various strategic places in the camper or caravan. This means that it takes thieves more time to find the tracker among the electronics present. In addition, burglars often do not even know that there is a tracker present, which further increases the chance of detection. Do you want to know what to look out for when choosing a GPS tracker? Then read this blog.
In combination with other security measures such as E-Movement (motion sensor) and E-Switch (burglar alarm), you will not only receive a warning when your camper leaves the campsite, but also as soon as someone breaks into your vehicle. This allows you to take action even faster in the event of theft. Also read this blog with 10 essential tips to strengthen your camper or caravan alarm system.
When taking out an eSIM subscription, you have the option to activate a recovery subscription (recovery service). In the event of theft, you only have to report it and report it to your insurance company, while experts do everything they can to recover your valuable possessions. That certainly gives you more peace of mind when traveling!
The biggest advantage of E-Track&Trace is that this GPS tracker is integrated into an expandable smart caravanning solution. E-Track&Trace is built into the Starter Package Plus (base station) and comes with E-Volt (battery status) and E-Level (digital spirit level).
You can easily add extra sensors by linking them to the Starter Package Plus. In this way, you can complete your security system by adding E-Movement (motion sensor) and E-Switch (burglar alarm).
In addition, you can install sensors to monitor your inventory:
- E-Gaslevel (gas bottle monitor)
- E-Waterlevel (water tank level sensor)
And for extra safety on the road:
- E-Pressure (tyre pressure sensors)
- E-Load (nose wheel with noseweight pressure sensor)
3. My camper or caravan has been stolen. What should I do now?
If your camper is stolen, acting quickly is essential to increase the chances of recovery. Here are the steps you can take immediately:
1. Stay calm and gather information
- Check that your vehicle has actually been stolen and has not been moved by authorities or parked incorrectly, for example.
- Note the exact location where you last saw the vehicle.
2. Check your GPS tracker (if available)
- Does your camper or caravan have a GPS tracker such as E-Track&Trace from E-Trailer?
- Open the app and check the last known location of your vehicle.
- If your tracker has a safety zone, check the notification that shows when and where the vehicle left the zone.
3. Report the incident to the police immediately
- Provide as many details as possible, such as:
- Make, model and registration number
- Special features (colour, stickers, accessories, damage)
- Last location and time
- GPS location (if available)
- Ask for a police report number for your insurance and further follow-up.
4. Report the theft to your insurance
- Depending on your policy, your camper or caravan insurance may (partially) reimburse the damage.
- Make sure you have the police report and other relevant documents at hand.
5. Activate your recovery subscription (if taken out)
- Do you have a recovery subscription via your GPS tracker?
- Experts can help track down and recover your vehicle.
6. Warn fellow campers and online communities
- Post a call on social media and camper forums with clear information about your vehicle.
- Theft reports in camper groups can sometimes be surprisingly effective!
7. Stay in touch with the police and follow the updates
- Keep regular updates on the progress of the investigation.
- If your vehicle is found, follow the instructions of the authorities to get it back.
Good preparation can prevent a lot of misery. Therefore, consider a GPS tracker with notifications and recovery service so that you can respond quickly in the event of theft.