The Caravan Storage Site Owners’ Association (“CaSSOA”) is celebrating its tenth anniversary since it was set up to combat caravan theft in 1999.
The association, which began with just 43 sites and now has a 558-strong nationwide network storing around 80,000 caravans, is also supported by 13 specialist caravan insurers, some of whom offer premium discounts for policyholders who store their caravans at CaSSOA-registered sites.
Keith Wardell, CEO at IGI Group, the insurer originally responsible for setting up CaSSOA, says: “When we set up CaSSOA in 1999 it was because, as a caravan insurer, we were extremely concerned about the growth and scale of caravan theft and subsequent claims on policies. I’m delighted to be celebrating the tenth anniversary of such a successful initiative, which has gone from strength to strength and helped to reduce caravan crime over the years.”
CaSSOA grades storage sites in three tiers – Bronze, Silver and Gold – according to the level of security offered. The network has adapted over the years to reflect changes in security products and the methods used by thieves to commit caravan crime and the awards system allows for sites to be upgraded and even downgraded where standards are deemed to have dropped – they are constantly reviewed.
Ted Young from CaSSOA says: “Caravans are a significant investment and CaSSOA offers owners peace of mind from knowing that their caravan is stored safely when not in use.
“A recent government survey of 630 caravan thefts showed that nearly half (48%) were stolen from private driveways whilst a staggering further 45 per cent were stolen from other locations such as service stations and holiday parks. It illustrates the increased risks involved when a caravan is either being used or stored in a non-secure location. Owners can pay a high price for not storing their pride and joy securely,” adds Mr Young.
One member of the CaSSOA network – Border Storage (pictured above) in Deeping St James, near Peterborough – is run by husband and wife team Keith and Alison Rogers. They know exactly what caravan owners are looking for having been caravan enthusiasts themselves for over 25 years. The storage site that they set up, after deciding to diversify their wholesale flower growing business and turn their hobby into a business, is a Gold level site and they have combined the storage facility with an award winning Caravan Club Certified Location touring site.
Keith Rogers of Border Storage says: “As caravan enthusiasts we feel that we have a very personal insight into what owners are looking for. We are definitely on their wavelength. CaSSOA has extremely high standards to become a Gold member and feedback from our own customers shows that they value this. We constantly look at our facilities and ask ourselves the question – ‘would we be happy to leave our own caravan here?’ – and over the years we’ve developed our business into a combined caravan storage facility and leisure park which has won awards. Joining the successful CaSSOA network has been an important part of our diversification strategy and we congratulate it and all the other members on its tenth anniversary.”