Police probe a spate of luxury caravan heists throughout Scotland

Brazen thieves are targeting and stealing luxury caravans across Scotland, with organised crime gangs breaking into secure sites and towing them away.

Some vehicles vanish in just a matter of minutes, with the crooks snatching caravans worth tens of thousands of pounds, sometimes in broad daylight.

The Scottish Mail on Sunday is aware of several thefts across Scotland, including a number from the Borders as well as incidents in Fife, Auchterarder in Perthshire and Kippen in Stirlingshire.

In March, Police Scotland warned that owners should take extra security measures as criminals look to cash in on the boom in staycations.

The force said: ‘With more people staying at home this summer, demand for caravans and mobile homes has increased and is likely to lead to a rise in thefts, often by organised gangs.’

In the same month that Police Scotland issued their warning, thieves grabbed a white Swift Sprite Quattro from a yard in Kelso, Roxburghshire, in an early morning raid.

The caravan, which can cost upwards of £20,000, was snatched by two men who attached it to their BMW and towed it away.

Meanwhile, husband and wife Mark and Kaylie Corrieri from Stirling lost their beloved £9,000 Swift Sterling Europa 600 on April 5.

The couple bought their caravan in 2022 – but Mr Corrieri, 39, arrived home from work in the early hours to find that it had been stolen from a car park outside their home.

He quickly reviewed CCTV footage of the scene and was ‘sickened’ to see a gang of thieves making off with it.

The video showed a red van arrive at around 1.15am and three men leap out to hook the caravan onto it while another of the gang stayed behind the wheel. Within seconds they were gone with the caravan in tow.

Mr Corrieri, who runs his own carpet cleaning firm, contacted the police straightaway but the caravan has yet to be traced.

He said: ‘It was sickening when we watched the footage back. To see something that was yours just be taken and driven off is angering and disheartening.’

Mr Corrieri, who has three children, April, five, and two-year-old twins Lucas and Oliver, added: ‘It was very much a family venture. We went everywhere in it. It’s more about the memories that it held. The kids adored it. We loved it as a family.’

Mrs Corrieri, 34, shared a video of her daughter excitedly exploring the caravan for the first time and spoke of her sadness at the thought of the crooks removing every trace of its rightful owners.

She said: ‘The fact that these people who stole it are going to rip off the name plaques above the kids’ beds is heartbreaking.

‘April keeps asking if our caravan is coming back for her birthday.’

She added: ‘It’s so hard to explain to her that there are bad people in this world because her little innocent mind sees the good in everything.

‘The caravan was like our second home, where we spent quality time together. Mark works so hard and spent so much time making this caravan perfect for us all.’

Detective Superintendent Andrew Patrick, acquisitive crime lead for Police Scotland, said: ‘In recent months, we have seen a number of caravan thefts across the country.

‘Officers have been carrying out inquiries to return the caravans to their owners and bring those responsible to justice.

‘We know that vehicle thefts can have a significant impact on victims, whether it’s through the invasive nature of the offence, or the financial impact it causes.

‘This type of behaviour has no place in our communities and we are committed to disrupting and reducing this criminality.’

He added: ‘Advice on how to keep your vehicles safe can be found on our website.’