A family of five had the shock of their lives last night when their caravan was stolen … with them inside it!
Police say the man, woman and three children aged between 6 and 12-years-were enjoying an evening in the van when they head their car start and the still-attached caravan began to move.
The five were able to exit the caravan as it was driven off by the offender
The terrifying incident happened just after 9pm at a van park in the small Queensland town of Hughenden.
The family were transported to hospital as a precaution.
Police say the car keys had reportedly stolen from the caravan earlier in the afternoon.
Police are still investigating the dramatic incident. PIC: Queensland Police
The caravan and car have since been located and recovered by police.
Investigations are continuing.
Flinders Shire Council interim chief executive, Bruce Davidson, told the ABC that the dramatic circumstances of the theft at the council-operated caravan park had come as a shock.
“Normally the crime rate is very low … so this is somewhat of an aberration for us,” Mr Davidson said.
He said police had assured him alternative accommodation had been found for the family, who were doing well.
“It’s not an experience you’d wish to go through,” he told the ABC. “I understand they’d connected their car to the caravan thinking they couldn’t steal the car if it was connected … obviously [the thieves] chose to take both.”
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When I free camp, I chain my Landcruiser up. I use a chain from the front wheel to the bull bar. I know padlocks were only meant to keep honest people out, but it will slow them down. If we’re in a fairly dicey district, I have another chain from the steering wheel to under the seat. Might seem like overkill but I’m not going to make it easy for these thieving mongrels. We were in a Hervey Bay CP last November for 10 nights. Only about a dozen others, I chained the cruiser up every night as locals told me vehicles were getting stolen very regularly in the district.
Personally, If I lost keys, or they were stolen, I’d be sleeping in the car with a bayonet, just waiting….