What do thieves do with a stolen trailer?

[Bookleaf]

There are a couple of threads active at the moment about stolen or theft prevention of, campers.
This has led me to think - What do thieves do with a stolen trailer? - How do they dispose of it?
If it is intended to turn it into cash, how do you re-birth a camper?
I guess the contents is sold off on the flee markets etc.

Not intending to set out a path for any prospective thief - we are all respectable owners on here after all, but it just got be wondering.
Any thoughts/experiences?

[Wortho]

Maybe some end up as 'accomodation' on remote properties or hidden away in factory units and used as living quarters. They may never see the light of day again in this case. I thought about this when I heard about a couple of Ultimate campers being stolen, they are definately unique and easily spotted if seen out and about, so maybe they end up buried in the back of some farm shed somewhere for a bit of free luxury accomadation.
The other possibility is they are shipped overseas in a shipping container.

[red t ute]

Or they file the VIN number off remove all the stickers and get a new a new VIN isued call it a home build trailer and go and get it inspected registured.
There no security like on a car no vin behind the windscreen no VIN Sticker that can't be removed.
Whats stopping them? And once its got Rego it will never need to be inspected again unless sold.

[red t ute]

Or rebirth a buy repairable right off just mount the I.d. Plate and restamp the VIN the crush the rest of the damaged one for scrap. Theft to order Ultimate Campers rebirthed and you would never know.

That why my new Kimberly Kamper allways locked away in my shed with a big dog guarding my whole yard. When Im not using it that is.
When I get home I wash it and it goes stright away as you never know who will drive past your house and see it sitting there. There a lot of scum around and alot of money to be made fast.

[rotare]

I always thought it was a case of "I want what you have, but can't afford to buy one with my own money", so they just steal one off somene else.

Take it back to their house, keep it out of sight for 6  months and during that time put a different set of wheels on it, give it a new paint job, remove any distiguishing features and ID plates, then re-register it as a home made job.  Or maybe they simply buy (or already have) a cheap trailer and just transfer the rego and ID plates to their "new", stolen trailer.

[UR-50-LO]

All they have to do is buy a cheap registered box trailer, swap the compliance plate & numberplate over then file off the old vin number and stamp the new one in it's place and they are done. No inspections needed and they can say they just put the tent section on it themselves that they bought from Ebay or whatever.... A friend was warning me about this when I bought my first camper as he knew of horse floats being done the same way in the area.

I recently got a GPS tracking system built into the trailer (will have to angle grind parts off to disable it IF you even know where to look). You set the "safety area" which mine is set at 2 metres and it is armed/disarmed by remote. If moved outside the pre-set area it sends an SMS to my phone and a signal back to a 24hr security station that track the trailer and report to police ASAP. Cost $1800 installed and $450 a year for service but well worth it IMO. Also have security chains etc...

[Patt31]

in Queensland the dept of transport dont give a damn when your camper is stolen, we went there with photos of ours and they said go away. We dont care. All the thief has to do is say it is a homemade job (which ours ways) and they will register it without proof of ownership. So the previous post where they say take off all marking stickers, grind back the VIN are pretty spot on.

Ours was a very unique design and have not seen it since, it is probably in another state somewhere or has been rebirthed.

That GPS system seems like a good way to go, even with the wheel locks and chains and locks if the thief wants the trailer they come prepared and take it anyway.

Well thats my 2 bobs worth on the subject, I can tell you this much our camper is safely tucked away in our garage now and we dont leave it out at all now. Its up and packed up in one day and put back in the shed until we use it again. Not taking the chance of this one being stolen too. When we are out on the road, well if we have to leave it we have to have some faith in human beings and hope it is still there when we get back

[Kit_e_kat9]

They have fun camping at someone else's expense I believe.

I sigh with relief everytime I return home and it's still parked where I left it after the last trip.  The fact that my neighbours complains everytime my dogs bark is a blessing in disguise ... I know she's got her head out the window and is looking ... even if it is to curse my pups ... I know she's the Mrs Mangel of our street and will know somethings up.  Whether she does anything could be another story ... but if she complains about the dogs at every opportunity, at least I know she's a genuine whinger and will do something.   

Unfortunately, not that many CT's are returned home safe and sound after being stolen ... which is bloody terrible IMHO!  Once gone, they are usually never seen of again by the actual owner.   

Kit_e

Edit:  This from a friend --->  When they steal all the tack from your agistment stables, the plucky thieves sell it all on GumTree ... including the custom harness with your horses name on it in rhinestones ... even the odd coloured horse hair on your saddle or rugs matches your odd coloured horse back home ... and apparently the police need a grenade under them to visit the place you just did (to ensure this is really your stuff).  When the cops finally do show up and get your gear back, the plucky thieves steal it all again and have their brother sell it on GumTree from a different address and by email only (I guess so he can weazel you out before he lets you know where he's got the stuff this time).

We all know the cops are run off their feet (earning large speeding dollars with radars while they read the paper and eat donuts ... ) catching murderers and peadofiles ... and that your tack or CT is to be investigated somewhere in 2215 when they get around to it ... after it's long gone ... I understand they do a great community service ... I just reckon we need more of them ... to service the smaller stuff .... like your tack or your CT. 

I know there are some lovely     here    and I understand you all work hard for the money     , we just need you on the CT cases more often ... Please.  Maybe if you had less paperwork to do??   

[2003gxl]

It would be easy to do the vin swapover with softfloor ie box trailer with tent on top, but don't know how they get on with jayco's,caravans ultimate's and hardfloor campers. I have mine behind very securily locked gates with treg lock and chains around the wheel to axle. It is fully insured but that doesn't help if if gets stolen as we have everything inside ready to go away. Lucky the neighbours are good and if there is ever a problem they contact me or my parents and they we keep a eye out for each others place.

[brickiematt]

Ours is garaged with a chain through the wheels and a padlock through the hitch. Also, our dog barks even if I fart too loudly, so she goes apeShit if someone comes up the driveway.
I've also engraved the VIN and another mark in 2 very inconspicuous spots, in the hope that if it is stolen and recovered I can identify it as mine.

[DiverBob]

Till reading this, I didn't think it would be so easy to rebirth a trailer. Both my box trailer and boat trailer have their VIN stamped into the a-frame. I would think grinding them off would weaken it.

I guess you could weld over it, then grind it smooth, then stamp a new number.

Has anyone given a thOught to starting a mug-shot page of stolen CTs? We are all out and about. If we had a page of pictures, one of us might see one of the stolen units.

[D4D]

Has anyone given a thOught to starting a mug-shot page of stolen CTs? We are all out and about. If we had a page of pictures, one of us might see one of the stolen units.

Like this? http://campertrailers.org/stolen.htm

[Tim - Stratford]

The scrap metal thieves have been known to strike around our patch - they'll steal anything - even if bolted down - anything from electrical cable, milk vat lids, drums...anything. They'll have a contact in some dodgy scrap metal yard to pass off their 'goods' for a few bucks.

My personal opinion is that some camper trailers could be gutted and sold for scrap - these thieves are happy to get $200 for your $5000 + camper just as scrap. Save the 'hard' word of re-birthing etc....most of these thieves are lazy. You may even buy your camper back from China as an outdoor setting!

My 2c


Tim

[Bird]

The scrap metal thieves have been known to strike around our patch - they'll steal anything - even if bolted down - anything from electrical cable, milk vat lids, drums...anything. They'll have a contact in some dodgy scrap metal yard to pass off their 'goods' for a few bucks.

My personal opinion is that some camper trailers could be gutted and sold for scrap - these thieves are happy to get $200 for your $5000 + camper just as scrap. Save the 'hard' word of re-birthing etc....most of these thieves are lazy. You may even buy your camper back from China as an outdoor setting!

thats somethign I hadnt thought of..
I'd expect a coat of paint, and wait 4yrs and resell it as a home built trailer new with new #'s.

[gacoxd]

Does any one have a link to the GPS trackers?

Damo

[wholehog]

MMMM...imagine your camper has been stolen by the scumbags...... a few months pass and u have been reimbursed by the insurance company and have a new camper ...raring to go.....
U set off for a few days to ya favorite camping ground and set up and start to unwind.....
Your sittin in your favorite chair( a new one cause the scum stole yours)...relaxing...looking around at the fellow punters,when u spot something a little familiar about the mob camped up the river a little........
The custom awning...... or the extra window length  u had ordered........ or some greasy FUKC sitting in ya favorite chair,cooking dinner in YOUR camp oven to feed his scank wife and feral kids......
U think......Naaaa.... just a coincidedce,but curiosity gets the better of u so u take wander over...
"G'day mate....Sweet set up..... mind if i have a look around"
And then that one thing......The one thing that lets u know with out a doubt in the world that this is  my GODDAM camper.....
What do u do?
I know what i would want to do........But this is the year 2012 ...not 1860 where the six shooter ruled......
WHAT WOULD YOU DO

[Tim - Stratford]

WHAT WOULD YOU DO

Invite them to a social game of 'camp cricket'.......with a 'special' ball....

[D4D]

What if they innocently purchased it from the thief?

[bobnrob]

My personal opinion is that some camper trailers could be gutted and sold for scrap - these thieves are happy to get $200 for your $5000 + camper just as scrap. Save the 'hard' word of re-birthing etc....most of these thieves are lazy. You may even buy your camper back from China as an outdoor setting!

My 2c


Tim

Exactly...that's why if there's a lamborgini & a rust bucket commode door parked next to each other, the one to go is the easiest to get into, because even the commode door is worth $$$ at the scrap yard!

[Footy Shorts Shane]

As far as I know, the "thief" doesn't do any thing with it, but sell it.

He/she knocks it off, and let's say it's worth $8k, floggs it to someone he/she knows who deals in stolen gear for $1500. The guy who deals in stolen gear flicks it for $3000 to "some one down the pub." The end purchaser is buying an $8000 trailer for $3000. He knows damn well it's hot, but it's $5k in his interest to re-birth it.

By the time it's rebirth, lets assume a week, the same thief has knocked off 3 more, made another $4500 and shot it all up into his/her arm.

They knock it off, flick it for enough to get a hit, and the next scum down the line, (stolen goods dealer) flicks it for a profit. I would assume that 70 - 80 % of the stolen gear on the market, the end user would know damn well it' hot.

Just how I see it,

Shane.

[dazzler]

in Queensland the dept of transport dont give a damn when your camper is stolen, we went there with photos of ours and they said go away. We dont care.

They actually said that?

Wow, I would have gone to the ombudsman.

[macca]

in Queensland the dept of transport dont give a damn when your camper is stolen, we went there with photos of ours and they said go away. We dont care.

Pretty much the same in Vic, my boss recentlly had his boat stolen from work and even though we had the whole thing on video all they did was give him the incident report number, or whatever it is called so he could get a pay out from the insurance company, then two months later two coppers roll up at work to collect the video because the case had "just made it to their in tray"? We had given them the video the day after it happened. I reckon once they go you have little to no chance to get them back

[dazzler]

I reckon once they go you have little to no chance to get them back

Especially if they have a crooked inspection place on the take as well to issue the new vin.

[DiverBob]

Like this? http://campertrailers.org/stolen.htm

Errr.... Yeah!

Gee, that was quick....

Do Imget a mention in the credits? after all, it was my idea

[BigJules]

Here is my story, as a buyer of a second hand trailer. Let this be a warning to all - beware the unregistered trailer.

Last year I needed a big trailer to transport tractors and equipment for my business. It's a start up so cash was limited. I looked at plenty, but one around the corner seemed ideal. It was well made and a good price. It was unregistered but I could see that it had been registered at some time. "I can get a blue slip" the seller told me, but he stuffed around, I needed a trailer so I made him a lower offer and took it.

Being a little cautious I got all the sellers details.

The process of getting it able to be registered, mechanically sound and conforming was a nightmare. It turned out the trailer was wider than can be legally registered in NSW (& probably the rest of the country) and I had to shorten the axles. I put one new axle in, brakes on both as it had none, plus a breakaway system, new LED lights, safety chains and LT tyres on it. Not cheap. I needed to register it to take 3.5T GVM.

The NSW RMS were hopeless and I got a different story with each call, and I was so lucky that the mechanic doing my blue slip was a good guy, for all the time & crap it took. His fee is $76! I looked after him though.

Then we determined that we could not identify the trailer. Not a spec of info. Once again I could not get a clear answer as to how I would proceed. I went to the RTA, called them repeatedly, spoke to a dozen people and all had conflicting opinions. I was directed to take my trailer to a NSW Police Crime squad for investigation. I did that. "All good" they tell me, but no. I finally had to take my trailer to the Forensic Squad and leave it with them so they could examine it in detail to determine if there were any identifying marks.

As you can imagine, I was getting nervous. I had spent thousands and now months of time on this thing an potentially I could lose it.

To my deep relief they proclaimed that it could not be identified and so I could request a new VIN from the RMS. Done. I front up at the local RMS to rego it. "No, sorry, you need to take it to a Heavy Vehicle Inspection Station". Faaark!  I took it to the HVIS in Penrith. "There is a problem" they say. "That VIN is wrong, something is wrong". I turned red with frustration and anger. I offered the number of the RMS bloke who had issued it. I had spoken to him twenty times and he was helpful so this could be sorted in a moment. "Don't tell us what to do sir" is the response. So I sat there for an hour whilst they fluffed until eventually they rang the guy and it was sorted.

You little ripper. I might have been using it unregistered for a little while, and now it was all legal and mine and sorted.

Roll forward two months. I am loading a tractor onto my trailer when a car pulls up. Not unusual, I get a lot of enquiries that way. "Where'd you get that trailer mate? That's mine". I tell him and give him my card. I got a call from a police officer that afternoon. I explain everything. If he can identify it I lose it.

I have provide all info and two months on I haven't heard anything.