CARAVANS have been targeted in a number of thefts across the county.

Since the beginning of November caravans have been stolen from Swindon, Trowbridge, Marlborough, Chippenham and Lyneham, with the most recent incident taking place in Cadley, near Marlborough overnight on Tuesday.

Wiltshire Police has urged owners to install extra security on caravans to protect them from similar thefts.

Determined thieves have cut through padlocks and security fencing in order the steals the large vehicles which are often worth thousands of pounds.

Between November 20 and 23, a Sprite Major 5 caravan was stolen from a storage yard in Semington, Trowbridge, after wire cutters were used to cut through a fence and drag the caravan out across a field.

Between November 23 and 24, a Coachman Amara 520/4 caravan was stolen from a driveway in Brook Street, Marlborough. and between December 3 and 4, two caravans – a Bailey Ranger 500 and a distinctive Silver Airstream trailer caravan - were stolen from a yard in Down Road, Chippenham.

A piece of fence securing the yard was taken and the lock was cut. On the same night Fairfield Caravan Storage in Trowbridge was broken into and a Bailey Barcellona caravan was stolen.

The suspects were then involved in a collision in the Thames Valley Police area. A man was arrested in connection with this by Thames Valley Police and later released under investigation while enquiries continue.

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said: “Our enquiries are ongoing in relation to each of these incidents and we have been carrying out visibility patrols in the areas targeted. We understand that these thefts can have a real impact on the victims – the caravans stolen are worth thousands of pounds.”

Anyone with information in relation to the incidents has been urged to call police on 101.