Motion sensor helps thwart caravan thief

A thief was caught in the act thanks to the motion sensor fitted to the caravan he was trying to steal, a court has heard.

Arvinder Mann was arrested at the wheel of a 4x4 while towing a touring caravan stolen from a farm near Swindon in Wiltshire.

According to the Swindon Advertiser the caravan's owner received a text alert on his mobile phone when the vehicle moved and he promptly drove down to the farm where it was parked.

He managed to overtake Mann and slow him down so that the police could catch him.

Despite having a number of previous convictions, the recovering heroin addict received only a suspended sentence.

Recorder Stewart Jones QC was quoted as saying: "I am going to pass a period of custody on you and it is up to you whether you serve it."

The case underlines the risk caravan owners face when leaving their vehicles parked in remote locations, but it also highlights the value of security measures.

Motion sensors are becoming increasingly common accessories, not just for caravans, but also top-of-the-range cars and commercial vehicles.

12/12/2007 09:42:15