An elderly traveller is in hospital after a daylight robbery in the remote Kimberley town of Halls Creek. On Saturday morning, the 76-year-old was checking his Isuzu D-Max ute and white caravan at a service station on the Great Northern Highway when, according to police, a teenager jumped into the driver’s seat and drove off. The 76-year-old man suffered serious injuries in Halls Creek during this vehicle theft.
During the incident, the man was struck by his own vehicle and suffered serious injuries. We understand he was flown by the Royal Flying Doctor Service to Royal Darwin Hospital, where he remains in a serious but stable condition. A 14-year-old boy has been charged over the incident, facing charges of grievous bodily harm and theft.
Fellow travellers and local residents have shared their shock, describing the attack as deeply troubling and highlighting the crime pressures facing Halls Creek. The town has long dealt with high crime rates, with community leaders expressing their frustration and calling for stronger action. Halls Creek has previously recorded one of Western Australia’s highest crime rates.
For this traveller and his partner, what should have been a simple fuel stop has become a challenging ordeal and a reminder of how quickly situations can change on the road.
Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated incident. Right across Australia, caravan theft has been steadily increasing. In Victoria alone, 174 caravans were stolen in the 12 months to June 2024, up 67% compared with 2022. With more than 900,000 registered caravans and motorhomes nationwide, opportunistic thefts are becoming a real concern for travellers. The total crime rate in Halls Creek recently reached a 10-year high, with incidents steadily increasing since 2015.
Recent cases include caravans taken from dealerships, driveways, and even campsites where families were sleeping inside. Thieves are becoming increasingly bold, and caravans, despite their size, remain attractive targets. We recommend you read our insurance advice for RV owners to make sure you have appropriate coverage for your purposes.
While you can’t eliminate every risk, there are practical steps you can take to make your rig far less appealing to thieves:
For more detailed guidance on van security, check out our 12 free caravan security tips.
Security isn’t just about locks and alarms. It’s about developing good habits. Simple practices like never leaving your keys in the ignition, parking in well-lit areas, and doing a quick walk around your van during fuel stops all help keep you safer. Use technology both inside and outside your caravan to help protect your belongings and give you peace of mind.
As one local traveller shared: “You can’t be too careful these days. Taking a few extra minutes to secure your property properly could save you years of heartache.”
The Halls Creek incident serves as an important reminder that the freedom of the road does come with some risks. Our thoughts are with the injured traveller and his family during this difficult time.
For all of us in the RV community, the message is clear: stay alert, take sensible precautions, and invest in good security measures. Caravanning should be about freedom and adventure, not worry and fear.
Caravan insurance guide – everything you need to know
