Brazen thieves steal Opus

One of Australia’s most experienced caravan journalists has fallen victim to brazen thieves.

Caravan World editor Max Taylor woke up on Sunday morning (August 2) to find his Opus camper trailer with hitch lock in place had been stolen overnight from the driveway of his home in Pakenham, Victoria.

“It was a Drifter XT 2014 model, using a standard ball coupling,” Taylor said. “I can’t fathom how they managed to break through the lock, as the one I used is very secure. Maybe they unbolted the coupling and replaced it – I really don’t know.”

“We believe it happened at night, when we were asleep.”

Taylor said the camper trailer (pictured) was in immaculate condition but had a drawbar  resprayed with a galvanising spray that was of a darker grey colour than the rest of the drawbar/chassis.

It also had a black checkerplate storage box on the A-frame.

The VIN is 6T9T2700SE0EV7003 and the rego plate was W56 758, and it's believed the camper was not fully insured.

“I don’t understand people who think they have more of a right to other people’s property than they do,” Taylor said.

The unusual Opus campers are distributed by Purpleline Australia but have only been on the market in Australia for a short time so are a rare sight on Aussie roads.

“We’re somewhere around the 50 mark at last count, but Max’s was grey, which would be somewhat less than half of them,” said Purpleline spokesperson Greg Shoemark.

“If you hear of an Opus being offered for sale through irregular channels, please yell out.”