Lynette de Vries
5 februari 2025
How safe is my motorhome or caravan in Europe?
The theft of motorhomes and caravans is unfortunately a common problem in Europe. This can have a devastating effect on the owner, who may lose not only their vehicle but also personal belongings and valuable memories. In addition, the financial consequences can be significant. In this blog, we 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 motorhome 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 motorhomes in Europe due to the lack of uniform registration in EU countries. This makes it difficult to keep accurate statistics.
Nevertheless, some EU countries have published data on the number of stolen motorhomes and caravans. In the Netherlands, for example, more than 600 motorhomes and caravans were stolen in 2021, while in Belgium almost 200 motorhomes were stolen. Germany has the highest number of stolen motorhomes and caravans, with more than 2,600 cases in 2020.
Germany:
- The German Insurance Association reported a sharp increase in motorhome and caravan thefts in Germany, especially during the coronavirus years: 11 out of every 10,000 caravans and motorhomes were stolen in Germany in 2021, rising to 13 in 2022. This percentage was four times higher than for cars. In 2023, thefts of recreational vehicles fell again to 9 per 10,000 recreational vehicles. With a total of 1.6 million caravans and motorhomes in 2023, this would correspond to approximately 1,450 thefts. In terms of camper vans alone, the Federal Criminal Police reported 469 camper vans that were ‘permanently lost’, i.e. could not be recovered, in its Federal Vehicle Crime Report 2023.
Netherlands:
- In 2022, the number of vehicles with Dutch registration plates stolen in Europe rose by 35% compared to 2021. Only 12% of these were recovered. In the Netherlands, the number of thefts of camping equipment rose 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% over the same period. Of all stolen vehicles, 47% were recovered, while only 25% of stolen camping equipment was recovered.
Belgium:
- In Belgium, nearly 200 motorhomes 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 incidents of theft and extortion were recorded in 2023, a slight increase of 1.4% compared to 2022. Although this figure includes all forms of theft, it highlights the need for campers to remain vigilant and take precautions to protect their property.
Stolen vehicles rarely reappear, partly due to the vehicle identification number (VIN), a unique code in the chassis. This allows buyers to check whether a vehicle has been stolen. Nevertheless, stolen motorhomes are often smuggled abroad, especially to Eastern Europe, where the VIN is less relevant.
It is clear that, despite the popularity of camping, the risk of motorhome and caravan theft in Europe remains. 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 greater peace of mind
Companies have been using GPS trackers for a long time, for example for journey registration. Thanks to this technology, stolen company vehicles are relatively often recovered. Now there is also a GPS tracker specially developed for motorhomes and caravans: E-Track&Trace from E-Trailer. This smart tracker alerts you as soon as your camping vehicle leaves a pre-set safety zone. A safety zone is a virtual fence that allows the user to mark a location, such as a campsite. As soon as the motorhome or caravan leaves this zone, the user immediately receives a notification on their smartphone and action can be taken straight away.
Good insurance also provides peace of mind. When taking out insurance, depending on the value of your camping equipment, there are various requirements you must meet to secure your motorhome. There are many options for meeting the security requirements, all with advantages and disadvantages. We have done some preliminary work and summarised the advantages of the various security requirements in an overview.
In the event of theft, criminals often try to locate and disable any GPS trackers as quickly as possible. This usually happens after they have left the campsite and found a remote location to remove the tracker. Acting quickly is therefore crucial and significantly increases the chances of recovering the vehicle.
Thanks to its compact design, the GPS tracker can be mounted in various strategic locations in the motorhome or caravan. This makes it more time-consuming for thieves to find the tracker among the other electronic devices. Moreover, burglars are often unaware that a tracker is present, which further increases the chances of detection. Would you like to know what to look for when choosing a GPS tracker? Then read this blog.
In combination with other security devices such as E-Movement (motion sensor) and E-Switch (burglar alarm), you will not only receive a warning when your camping equipment leaves the campsite, but also as soon as someone enters your vehicle. This allows you to take action even faster in the event of theft.
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 Pack Plus (base station) and comes with E-Volt (battery status) and E-Level (digital spirit level).
You can easily add extra sensors by connecting them to the Starter Pack Plus. This allows you to complete your security system by adding E-Movement (motion sensor) and E-Switch (burglar alarm).
You can also install sensors to monitor your supplies:
- 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 ball pressure sensor)
Want to know more about what to look for when purchasing a GPS tracker for your motorhome or caravan? Read it here!
3. My motorhome or caravan has been stolen. What should I do now?
If your camping vehicle is stolen, it is essential to act quickly to increase the chances of recovering it. Here are the steps you can take immediately:
1. Stay calm and gather information
- Check whether your vehicle has actually been stolen and has not, for example, been moved by the authorities or parked incorrectly.
- Make a note of the exact location where you last saw the vehicle.
2. Consult your GPS tracker (if available)
- Does your motorhome 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 indicating when and where the vehicle left the zone.
3. Report the theft to the police immediately
- Provide as many details as possible, such as:
- Make, model and registration number
- Distinguishing features (colour, stickers, accessories, damage)
- Last location and time
- GPS location (if available)
- Request a report number for your insurance and further follow-up.
4. Report the theft to your insurance company
- Depending on your policy, your camper or caravan insurance may cover some or all of the damage.
- Make sure you have the police report and other relevant documents to hand.
5. Activate your recovery subscription (if you have one)
- Do you have a recovery subscription through your GPS tracker?
- Experts can help track down and recover your vehicle.
6. Alert fellow motorhome owners and online communities
- Post an appeal on social media and motorhome forums with clear information about your vehicle.
- Theft reports in motorhome groups can sometimes be surprisingly effective!
7. Stay in touch with the police and follow the updates
- Check regularly for updates on the investigation.
- If your vehicle is found, follow the instructions of the authorities to get it back.
Good preparation can save you a lot of trouble. Consider getting a GPS tracker with alerts and recovery service so you can respond quickly in case of theft.
4. Tip: Check the Stolen Property Register
Did you know that you can be held liable if you unknowingly purchase a stolen motorhome or caravan? Therefore, always check the Stolen Property Register (GOR) before purchasing second-hand camping equipment. The GOR is also useful for reporting theft, as this can help you recover your camping equipment.
* The National Intelligence and Expertise Centre for Vehicle Crime (LIV) is a partnership between the RDW, the police and the Dutch Association of Insurers. The LIV contributes to the investigation and prevention of crime, including the theft of camping equipment.
Sources: LIV, Stichting VBV, GOR, BOVAG, politie.be, GDV , BKA.
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