Salvage Yard Warns: Fuel Theft Is Rising. Is Your RV Protected?

A salvage yard that handles vehicles every day just put out a public warning about fuel theft. On October 1, 2026 we came across this post from Williams Salvage Limited, a towing and salvage company in Hamilton, New Zealand:

> "🛑 ATTENTION: PROTECT YOUR FUEL! 🛑

>

> At Williams Salvage, we've been seeing more fuel theft lately. With petrol and diesel prices where they are, thieves are getting more creative and more desperate."

Read the full post from Williams Salvage Limited on Facebook

When the people who tow and recover vehicles for a living start warning the public, it is worth listening. And the same thing is happening here in North America.

Why RVs are an easy target

The car in a typical fuel-theft warning at least has a fuel door. Most motorhomes do not.

Add the fact that RVs sit for days or weeks at campgrounds, riding areas and storage lots, and you have a lot of fuel parked in the open.

It is already happening to RV owners

Two of our own customers learned this the hard way:

What you can do

1. Park smart. Choose well-lit, monitored spots and park with the fuel fill facing a wall or another vehicle when you can.

2. Check your fuel after storage. A sudden drop after the RV has been sitting is the first sign.

3. Do not rely on a locking cap alone. It still leaves the cap exposed. Locking gas cap vs. locking fuel door

4. Lock the fill itself. A locking fuel door covers the whole fill area so there is no cap to reach.

The RV Fuel Vault

The RV Fuel Vault is a bolt-on, keyed locking fuel door made for motorhomes and toy haulers. Your factory cap stays in place underneath. It installs in about 8 to 15 minutes with no cutting, and it is made in the USA with a Limited Lifetime Warranty.

No lock is impossible to defeat, but a locked door over the fill moves your RV to the bottom of a thief's list.

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