A Seddon family’s new year travel plans have been marred by the theft of their beloved hand-built caravan on Boxing Day.
Andrew Steward said the “teardrop” caravan, which is modelled on a 1940s design and took about 200 hours to build, was towed from the front of their Bliston Street house between midnight and 6am on December 26.
Mr Steward, together with his wife and their two daughters, had planned to leave for a family holiday that day.
“Our tradition is to leave Boxing Day and hit the road with no destination, only a direction,” he said. “Having built something like this, the hurt is much deeper … I’m not sure I have the energy to build another, certainly not the funds to purchase the equipment needed.”
The uninsured caravan was fitted out with solar panels, LED lights, a stovetop and cooking equipment. It had the family’s personal belongings, surfboards, fishing equipment and diving gear aboard.
“It was always packed, ready to go at a moment’s notice, being for pleasure or work trips away,” Mr Steward said. “It was a nice feeling to be hooking the teardrop onto the car.
“It was also a discussion starter, the catalyst of many camping friendships.
“Thievery is pestiferous behaviour,” he said. “I’m not sure people who take possessions really think about how they would feel if such a possession was taken from them.”
A reward is being offered for the return of the caravan and-or its contents.
The registration number is V75 158.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
