How To Find A Stolen Rv
Are you looking for RV theft statistics?
Well, when yous think about vehicle theft, you probably think of someone hot wiring a sports motorcar and driving off into the dusk. You probably don't think about RVs being hijacked — unless, of class, you're an RV owner.
If you are, yous're likely very aware of how mutual RV theft really is. But do you know the specifics? How nearly the researched statistics relating to the bailiwick?
This commodity is going to cover all these questions and more. Information technology'due south also going to become in-depth on a few tips and tricks that y'all can use to prevent your RV from being stolen.
The Consequence With Tracking RV Statistics
Before jumping into the statistics of RV theft, let's talk well-nigh why information technology is difficult to discover statistics almost this topic.
If you lot speedily practice your own Google search, you lot will observe a lot of articles about how RV thefts are common and how to protect your RV. You will find very little statistical data to support these articles.
The reason is non that RVs are rarely stolen. On the contrary, RVs are actually at high risk of being stolen, as we will discuss later. Despite how mutual RV theft is, there is very little statistical data nearly RV theft specifically.
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The reason for this is rather simple. RV theft is grouped in with motor vehicle theft, which likewise includes cars, buses, and motorcycles. As a outcome, there are very few reports about RV theft specifically, but in that location are tons most motor vehicle theft.
For this reason, we will hash out both RV theft statistics and motor vehicle theft statistics since they are intimately related.
RV Theft Statistics to Know
Here are some central statistics well-nigh RV theft specifically:
RVs Are At High Risk.All vehicles are at high risk for theft, but some are at more than risk than others. RV owners must know that their RVs and trailers are at high risk.
👉 Equally of 2017, RVs and similar trailers were considered the fourth about common vehicle type to be stolen and deemed for 6% of stolen vehicles.
Though the Construction Theft Recovery Report has not put out a more recent report, it's safety to assume that RVs are still upward there. If yous but browse the Net, you tin can see a huge influx of stolen RVs over the past year.
The National RV Dealers Association actually has a stolen mobile home report. This is the but website that tells outright how many RVs are stolen throughout the years.
👉 From 2013 to 2019, very few RVs were reported equally stolen, with iii existence the highest reported in 2016.
In 2020, nevertheless, in that location was a huge influx in the number of stolen RVs reported.
👉 In fact, that number jumped as high as 26, which is 867% college than reports listed in the years before.
Although non all motorhome thefts are reported on this database, it shows that RV theft is still a huge result today.
RV Theft: The Meager Statistics
luckily, RV theft is a pretty rare offense when compared with the rate of other crimes. This is a determination I came to upon discovering that in that location are very few reported RV crimes and even fewer noted statistics on the matter.
According to the National RV Dealers Clan 2013 had 2 thefts, 2014 had 1 theft, 2016 had 3 thefts, and 2018 and 2019 both had 1 theft.
This statistic only covers RVs stolen from dealerships, however, from it we can quite safely assume that the numbers of stolen RVs elsewhere is pretty low, also.
This doesn't mean that yous'll never fall victim to this crime or that you'll never know someone who has; it merely means that you're very unlikely to.
Unfortunately, other than this full general data, there is very piffling in the style of statistics about RV theft.
RV Theft By State
According to the RVDA, Kentucky, W Virginia, and Florida take especially high numbers of RV thefts, though they don't list specific numbers.
This is an interesting statistical point since, every bit we volition learn later, Kentucky and Westward Virginia are not considered high-risk states for motor vehicle theft.
This simply means that states with low motor vehicle theft may exist high for RV theft.
RV Theft by Calendar month
👉 Co-ordinate to a study conducted between the years of 2014 and 2016, the summer months tend to have the highest number of RV thefts.
However, RV thefts have dramatically increased during the fall months as well. This makes June through Nov the almost mutual times for RV theft. The fewest RV thefts are reported during the winter.
Motor Vehicle Theft Statistics
Considering RV theft is grouped with motor vehicle theft, motor vehicle theft statistics can be very enlightening in this discussion. Here are stats about motor vehicle theft equally a whole:
Motor Vehicle Theft by State
Currently, the well-nigh mutual states for motor vehicle theft include the following:
• California
• Texas
• Florida
• Washington
• Georgia
• Colorado
• Missouri
• Tennessee
• Ohio
In contrast, certain states are known for their depression rates of motor vehicle theft.
👉 Here are the x states with the least amount of motor vehicle theft:
• Vermont
• Wyoming
• Maine
• New Hampshire
• Rhode Island
• Idaho
• Delaware
• Due south Dakota
• North Dakota
• Washington, DC
Motor Vehicle Theft by Metropolis
👉 As of 2019, below are the 10 highest cities with the well-nigh motor vehicle theft:
• Bakersfield, California
• Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Saint Joseph, Missouri-Kansas
• Modesto, California
• Topeka, Kansas
• Yuba City, California
• Merced, California
• Yakima, Washington
• Springfield, Missouri
👉 As yous probably noticed, iv of these 10 cities are located in California, and 2 are in Missouri.
👉 Both states are in the top ten states for motor vehicle theft.
👉 The remaining iv cities are not located in states with the highest number of motor vehicle theft.
Motor Vehicle Theft By Vacation
Interestingly, there seems to be a really big connexion between motor vehicle theft and holiday.
For example, New Yr'due south Twenty-four hours tends to have the greatest number of motor vehicle thefts, whereas Christmas Day has the fewest.
Here is a look at the number of motor vehicle thefts per holiday in the year 2019:
| Rank | Holiday | Theft Number |
|---|---|---|
| one | New Yr'due south Solar day | 2320 |
| two | Labor Day | 2222 |
| three | President's Day | 2204 |
| four | New Year's Eve | 2201 |
| 5 | Halloween | 2191 |
| 6 | Valentine's Day | 2174 |
| vii | Memorial Day | 2161 |
| viii | Christmas Eve | 2011 |
| ix | Independence Dy | 1995 |
| 10 | Thanksgiving | 1683 |
| xi | Christmas Day | 1580 |
Where and How RVs Autumn Victim to Theft
It goes without saying that almost RVs are stolen while their occupants are away from them.
This means that most stolen campers become stolen when their occupants are parked on the side of the road and getting something to eat or doing some shopping, or when the RV is parked for a short period of fourth dimension in a garage or exterior of a house.
RV thefts taking identify on archetype campgrounds are relatively rare, with about of them happening while the vehicle is parked and left unattended at a different location.
Stolen in Wide Daylight– Theft from a Moving RV >> Check out the video below:
👉 RV thieves have special care to distinguish between travel-trailer-type RVs and motorhomes. Why? Well, this is because they are different vessels and as such, require different resources, different levels of planning, and different approaches to successfully brand off with.
Travel trailers need to outset exist hooked up to a tow vehicle, while RVsmust exist broken into and hotwired before they can be lifted.
👉 Based on this fact lonely, it's pretty easy to see that these 2 types of RVs require dissimilar preventative and safety measures to be in place in lodge for their owners to avoid having their summer vehicle stolen from under their noses – we'll acquire more than nearly that in the following sections.
It'south easier for passersby to dismiss a travel trailer hijacking. This is because, at get-go glance, it's incommunicable to make up one's mind if the person hooking the trailer to a tow vehicle is the legitimate owner or non.
👉 Motorhome thefts are easier to spot, for obvious reasons. One, of course, is that the burglar has to break the window offset — an act that always looks suspicious. With a travel trailer, no one has to go inside of the vessel in lodge to steal information technology; it can all be done from exterior and in broad daylight.
👉 In add-on, RVs that are stored or parked at home serve equally potential targets. When your RV is parked in the driveway or on the side of the street, information technology's more likely to get a target than if it was parked inside a garage, as garage walls act every bit barriers that about thieves aren't going to carp trying to tackle.
Read also: Can You lot Sleep In McDonald's Parking Lot? (The Truth)
👉 RVs in storage facilities are also targets — especially if the facility is lacking in the security department.
An RV storage facility with security cameras, on-site security guards, or high walls and fences are more secure and less likely to exist target by thieves.
👉 An RV that is parked on the street, similar we said higher up, is a prime target. How safe your RV is when parked in that location depends on the street and the neighborhood.
By and large, RVs parked in busy places are safer since in that location are tons of potential witnesses walking past, while remote areas are basically beacons for RV thieves cheers to their deserted nature.
👉 Parking lots of large retailers and industrial sites aren't as safe as they may seem, unfortunately.
During the mean solar day they are humming with everyday activity but after the establishments close they are quite rapidly deserted until the next morning. Sometimes, the areas are even completely empty over the weekend.
👉 Campgrounds tend to be relatively safe spots. However, in that location are exceptions to this rule.
For case, campgrounds with adept security measures in identify are on the safe terminate of the spectrum, while those with minimal security and management that isn't invested in the security of their campers fall somewhere on the other side.
RV Theft Prevention Tools
If you brand information technology easy for a thief to steal your RV, the more likely a theft is to occur.
That's why it's important to be mindful of RV safety and to actively make information technology hard for RV thieves to make off with your vehicle. You can do this by employing a diversity of prevention measures.
GPS Systems
While installing a GPS won't protect your RV against being stolen in the first identify, it will brand it easier for your vehicle to be found should something finish up happening.
Almost GPS systems can exist linked to smartphones and other devices, which makes it easy to runway the location of your RV as shortly as you realize that information technology's not where it'due south supposed to exist.
When using a GPS system, you need to ensure that it's placed somewhere where the criminals won't notice it.
If they practise, they'll notice a manner to disable it or abandon the mission, leaving your RV ditched somewhere and the offenders running free with little take chances of being caught.
Tire Kick Locks
Tire boot locks are handy devices that forbid a vehicle'due south tires from moving. Using a tire boot lock on each wheel when you're non in your RV is a keen mode to make the human action of stealing your RV as hard equally possible.
Coupler Locks
Coupler locks are designed specifically for travel trailer RVs. They preclude thieves from beingness able to hook your RV to their tow vehicle.
Of class, they can exist bypassed with the right tools and enough time, but the fact that they brand stealing your RV more time consuming is risky business for criminals.
Steering Wheel Locks
When it comes to motorhomes, steering wheel locks are a nifty investment. They substantially lock the steering wheel in one position and go far impossible for thieves to bulldoze the motorhome.
Cablevision Locks
Cable locks can be used for all types of RVs. Alone, they're likely not enough to prevent theft but paired with some other prevention method, these handy locks add an extra layer of protection. They tether your RV to posts or trees and proceed them secure.
Padlocks
Padlocks work for all types of RVs. They are affordable and easy to find.
RV Theft: All-time Practices
In addition to equipping your RV with all the tools mentioned above, there are also a number of best practices that should exist adopted.
Close the windows
Okay, and so keeping your RV windows closed while you lot aren't in it isn't going to stop a defended thief from stealing your RV.
Information technology might, withal, slow them downwards. Earlier they can hijack the vehicle, they will need to break or otherwise go the window open which takes time and ups the risk of them being caught in the act.
Be sure to close your windows before you lot leave your RV unattended.
Stay in sight.
If you've e'er known someone who just got a fancy new car, you lot might have caught them trying to sit down at a restaurant table with a view of their vehicle. Chances are that they were trying to "babysit" their car.
This idea can exist adopted for RVs, too. If you leave to consume, why not park the RV in a spot that allows you to see it from inside the establishment?
That way yous can keep an middle on it at all times and if anyone starts poking around, you can rapidly remedy the problem.
Adopt a canis familiaris.
Like houses, RVs are worthy of beingness protected. What better fashion to protect your RV than by employing a canis familiaris to protect it?
Nigh RVs are likewise pocket-sized for the large, scary breeds usually used equally guard dogs but even smaller breeds tin be good at this job.
This is mostly because they bark and then much. If someone tries to break in and steal your RV, you lot very well might hear your dog barking and be alerted to potential theft.
Of course, you won't desire to employ this technique if you're going to be storing your RV — dogs are living beings and as such, they need intendance and attention, besides.
Read also: Do RV Rentals Allow Pets? (Pet Friendly Companies)
Army camp near other campers.
We've all heard the proverb that there is safety in numbers and, equally cheesy as it is, it's true. You lot're a lot less likely to be a victim of RV theft when you're around other people.
Every bit a good dominion of thumb, if you tin see your closest RV park neighbor, they can see you, too.
Endeavour to camp or park your RV inside the line of sight of other campers. Later all, no good thief will desire to steal an RV that is being watched by a handful of witnesses.
Go out a light on.
When you get out for dinner or on a hike, leave a light on the within of your RV. This makes it look like someone is inside the RV. You could besides go out the TV or stereo on.
You lot might be thinking that thieves are well aware of this fob – and sure, they probably are. Just if y'all were a thief, would you want to risk someone actually being inside? Probably not.
Avoid flashy embellishments.
Vehicles (and RVs) that are flashy and larger than life tend to be high up on the list of potential targets.
👉 Obviously, this is because the thieves are attracted to the fancy objects within the RV and, when they tin can't steal just the $3,000 stereo because it takes too much time to rip it out, they'll settle for stealing the entire RV instead.
When you're traveling in an RV, try to avoid showing your coin off. Exit your most precious valuables at habitation and don't brag to other campers or people you lot meet on your travels about your crawly new tires.
Park smart.
If yous need a reminder of what nosotros said above about where to park and where not to park your RV, here information technology is.
Park in high-traffic areas that have people or houses nearby. Avoid parking in dimly lit areas, at deserted rest stops along the highway, or on streets that hardly run across any traffic within a given twenty-four hour period.
These are hotspots for vehicular theft — including RV theft.
If you're unsure whether ana rea is safety for parking, endeavour to think like a criminal. Would you be gutsy enough to endeavor a theft in the said surface area? If and then, then the area might not exist all that safe and you should rethink your parking spot.
Read as well: Tin can I Park an RV at Walmart? [Recent Law & Rules]
Decision
In full general, stolen RVs don't seem to be a pressing problem. There are no definitive RV theft statistics, which leads us to believe that the trouble isn't bad plenty to warrant them. This is a good thing.
Even nevertheless, though, it's never a bad idea to protect yourself confronting theft since you never really know what'south going to happen and no one who becomes a victim ever thinks that they're going to.
Have precautions such equally using various locks, closing the windows, leaving lights on, and staying near others and your RV should stay safely within your grasp.
References
http://world wide web.rvda.org/
https://www.safewise.com/
Source: https://www.rvandplaya.com/rv-theft-statistics/
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