How common are vehicle thefts? Are camper vans stolen often?
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), more than one million vehicles were reported stolen in 2022, marking a 7% rise from 2021 and exceeding the one million mark for the first time since 2008. The highest numbers of reported vehicle thefts were in California and Texas, while Illinois had the most significant increase, estimated at 35% from 2021 to 2022.
In 2021, the top 10 US metro areas for vehicle thefts were as follows:
Bakersfield, CA
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
Pueblo, CO
Albuquerque, NM
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
Billings, MT
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Yuba City, CA
In the past several years of reporting, vans have not been included in the top 10 rankings of most stolen vehicle makes/models. The most frequently stolen vehicles primarily include pick-ups and passenger cars. For instance, in 2021, the top 10 most frequently stolen vehicles were as shown below - none of which are vans.
Chevrolet Pick-Up (Full Size)
Ford Pick-Up (Full Size)
Honda Civic
Honda Accord
Toyota Camry
GMC Pick-Up (Full Size)
Nissan Altima
Honda CR-V
Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
Toyota Corolla
Of course, a major factor in these stats is a result of the distribution of cars actually on the road - meaning that cars more frequently stolen are typically cars that are more commonly purchased. Because vans aren’t as popular as a standard sedan, it tracks that they’ll be stolen less. That said, campers can provide additional incentive for thieves - especially if they’re obviously converted (with indications of solar panels, fans, etc.) given that there may be expensive appliances or parts inside.
Older vehicles appear to be more commonly stolen - if you have a newer model year van, it may deter thieves due to the implicit improvements in technology, tracking and security. For instance, in 2021, 70% of the most commonly stolen vehicles were more than 15 years old.
Effectively, it’s difficult to confirm via the latest available statistics whether camper vans are ‘commonly’ stolen or not, but they certainly aren’t stolen more often than some of the most popular cars on the road like pick-ups and sedans. That said, the likelihood of your conversion van being stolen is quite dependent on the exact van you have - how ‘stealth’ it is, what year it is, and where you’re located.
Steps to take when a conversion van is stolen
Notify the police that your van has been stolen
The first step is to report the theft to the police. You should provide as much information as possible, including the make and model of your vehicle, its registration number, and any identifying features or modifications that may help to distinguish it from other similar vehicles. The police will then be able to add your vehicle to their database of stolen vehicles and begin their investigations.
Notify your insurance company of the camper theft
It is also important to notify your insurance company as soon as possible. Depending on the type of coverage you have, your insurance may be able to cover the cost of the vehicle or help you recover it. Be sure to provide your insurance company with any relevant information, such as the police report and any documentation or photographs of your vehicle.
Post excessively on social media vanlife forums
In addition to reporting the theft to the police and your insurance company, you should also try to spread the word about your stolen vehicle as widely as possible. Share information about the theft on social media and online forums, and ask friends and family to keep an eye out for your vehicle. Post pictures of your van and any identifying information to the largest groups and threads online; for instance, Reddit’s r/vandwellers has over 2 million members across the world or r/vanlife with nearly 200k members, many of which are living on the road on a daily basis and could run into your van on the road. Facebook groups are incredibly popular, with active regional groups that may help you reach a concentrated audience in the geographic area that your van was stolen. For instance, the ‘VanLife - USA’ group has 52k members, which certainly wouldn’t help in terms of exposure for your missing van. That said, try searching keywords like vanlife, camper, rv, conversion van, etc. along with your particular region - you’ll find that there are smaller groups tailored to specific areas such as ‘California vanlife’ at 7.2k memers, ‘Vanlife Australia’ at 54k members, ‘VanLife Northeast’ at 1.8k members, ‘Vanlife Colorado’ at 1.8k members and even as specific as ‘VanLife Michigan’ at nearly 1k members.
There are also Facebook groups specific to stolen vehicles and cars, also tailored to regions. For instance, the ‘PNW Stolen Cars’ group has 95k members, while the ‘Colorado Stolen Cars’ group has 41k members. You get the point - Facebook, Reddit and similar social media platforms can be super useful in getting attention towards your lost van.
Activate any tracking devices in your conversion van
If you have any tracking devices installed, activate them and provide the location data to the police. Even if you haven’t intentionally installed a tracker, or left an Airtag, etc. it may be worth checking with your manufacturer to ensure there aren’t any implicit tracking systems. If you have a newer vehicle, there’s a good chance the manufacturer may be able to help locate it if you have identifying information for the vehicle. This isn’t a guarantee as many tracking systems are optional at purchase, or would require aftermarket installation, but worth double checking given how serious the problem is.
Raise attention about your stolen van on local community apps
Similar to posting on social media like Facebook and Reddit, various apps can be useful to gather attention locally to keep an eye out for your van. For instance, we don’t have any affiliation, but Nextdoor is a networking platform designed specifically for local communities. It allows neighbors to connect with each other and stay informed about what is happening in their area. The app operates on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis and requires users to verify their address before they can join.
If someone has had their conversion van stolen, Nextdoor can be a useful tool to help spread the word and increase the chances of recovering the stolen vehicle. Once the theft is reported, the victim can post about the theft on Nextdoor, alerting neighbors and other community members to keep an eye out for the missing van. The app does allow users to share photos and descriptions of the stolen vehicle, which can be helpful in identifying it if spotted. By leveraging the power of the local community, Nextdoor can be an effective tool for recovering stolen property. It provides a platform for victims to quickly and easily communicate with their neighbors and enlist their help in finding their stolen conversion van.
Check with local towing companies
One possible option to explore is contacting local towing companies. Firstly, it's possible that your van was towed without your knowledge by a local company. While you may think it's super unlikely, it's worth ruling out. It could happen if you parked in a restricted area or if your van was blocking access to something important. By calling up the towing companies in your area, you can ask if they have your van in their possession.
In addition, local towing companies often have their ear to the ground when it comes to vehicle thefts in the area. They may have intel about any stolen vehicles that have been towed or recovered recently. By reaching out to them and providing details about your stolen van, they may be able to assist you in locating it. They may also be able to provide information about any suspicious activity they've noticed in the area.
Lastly, local towing companies may be able to provide helpful advice and support during this stressful time. As they deal with these types of issues quite a bit, they may be well-connected in the community and able to put you in touch with experienced people locally, or provide general tips.
Keep an eye on used van marketplaces and sales platforms
When a van is stolen, it's often for the purpose of selling it off quickly to make some cash. Thieves know that they need to get rid of the van as soon as possible to avoid getting caught, so they'll often turn to online marketplaces to sell it off. By monitoring these sites, you may be able to spot your stolen van for sale and take action to retrieve it.
Even if the thief decides to sell your van to someone out of town or even out of state, you may still be able to track it down. By keeping an eye on websites like Craigslist, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace, you'll be able to see if your van pops up for sale anywhere. We have a full list of sites that are used to sell vans here.
Take care of yourself
It is important to take care of yourself during this stressful time. As hard as it sounds, try to stay calm and focused, and seek support from friends and family. While handling the investigation of your stolen van, try to make sure you have short term accommodations in place - for instance, a place to stay with a friend, a hotel, etc. Don’t forgo your personal health and well-being during the undoubtedly chaotic time. It’s not impossible for a stolen van to turn up, especially given how custom and easily identifiable many of them are, so try to limit any undue mental wear.
Where can I find first-hand answers about stolen conversion vans?
Reddit is a great start:
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