Elite closes Melbourne dealer

Melbourne’s Elite Caravans has closed its Cooper Street, Melbourne dealership in the wake of a police investigation into an alleged $1 million-plus fraud, but co-owner Adrian Cappola was quick to assure customers that it was “business as usual until this thing blows over”.

Cappola said that Elite was still trading and building caravans at its Glenbarry Road, Campbellfield factory, but when caravancampingsales called in recently there was little sign of activity and the company’s Cooper Street retail sales yard looked closed.

“It was a very sophisticated fraud by a rogue employee,” said Cappola. “I can't comment too much at the moment because there is a police investigation underway.

Cappola confirmed that an email to members of its owners' club claimed the money was channelled through an unauthorised bank account.

“We have insurance for fraud, but this issue goes back years and involves a serious amount of money,” he said. “We certainly didn’t have this in our budget.”

Cappola said in the short term that Elite was ceasing operation at its retail site and advised anyone interested in purchasing a caravan to come directly to the Glenbarry Road factory.

“The Cooper Street yard is still in our possession, but in at least the short term we are thinking of bringing it back into our factory, where it used to be.”

He also said that Elite was booked to exhibit at the Victorian Caravan, Camping & Touring Supershow at the Melbourne Showgrounds from February 21-26.

“From our customers’ point of view, it’s business as usual,” he said.