A WARNING has gone out to caravan owners, after a spate of thefts in the Vale.

A Murcot man found his stolen caravan abandoned on a traffic island minutes after giving chase to the thieves attempting to steal it.

The man spotted his caravan being towed away from his Murcot home by a green Rover Vitesse at around 1.30am last Monday, January 23. Less than 10 minutes later the owner found the caravan and the vehicle abandoned at Pitchers Hill, Wickhamford, near the roundabout turning to Willersey.

There was no sign of the culprits when the owner went to investigate, but one or more men are believed to have fled the scene across nearby fields.

The incident follows a spate of similar thefts in the Vale over recent weeks, and police are now advising caravan owners to take extra security precautions.

Spokesman Richard Bull said: "While thefts appear to be targeted larger twin-axled caravans, all owners should consider how else they can further improve the security of their vehicles."

A 26ft cream Sterling Searcher caravan, worth an estimated £14,000, was taken from an address in Cropthorne last Wednesday. The theft is believed to have happened some time before 7.45am.

The incident followed two earlier thefts, including that of a green Lunar Freelander caravan, valued at £15,000, on Saturday, January 15. The caravan is thought to have been taken from the Avon Soaring Centre on Honeybourne Road, Bickmarsh between midnight and 2.30am.

A cream 18ft Avondale Lena Wenlock caravan was also taken from an address at Hinton-on-the-Green some time between Wednesday, January 5 and Sunday, January 16. In a fourth incident two men were disturbed by a resident in Weston Road, Bretforton and left without taking anything.