Imagine going to pick up your RV after months in storage, only to find it vanished into thin air.

For Steve and Claudia Sorenson, this nightmare became a reality—and the twists that followed were even crazier than the theft itself.

From police blunders to a thief with audacity (and terrible life choices), their story is a masterclass in what not to do when securing an RV.

The video below breaks down this unbelievable saga.

1. The Theft: A Homeless Man, a Broken Window, and Zero Common Sense

The Sorensons stored their 22-foot Mini Winnie at Stacks Up Storage in El Centro, California—a facility with gated entry (but, as it turns out, the security of a wet paper towel).

In September 2022, a homeless man hopped the fence, jimmied the door, hotwired the RV, and drove off. The kicker? The exit gate didn’t require a code, so he just… left.

“The exit gate at this storage facility did not need an access card or a code to get out. You just drive up to it, gate went up, thief drove away.”

Nothing says “secure storage” like a gate that lets anyone waltz out with a stolen RV. Maybe next time, they’ll add a sign that says, “Please don’t steal”?

2. The Police’s Greatest Hits: Failure to Notify (Twice!)

The RV was recovered in December 2022 when the thief was caught—but the police never contacted the Sorensons.

Instead, they impounded it, and the thief stole it again from the tow yard two days later.

When police recovered it a second time, they still didn’t notify the owners.

“What’s mind-blowing is that the police confiscated the RV, knew something was wrong, and never even tried to contact the registered owner.”

If ignoring owners was an Olympic sport, the El Centro Police Department would take gold, silver, and bronze.

3. The Tow Yard’s Special Touch: Selling the RV Out From Under Them

Since nobody told the Sorensons their RV had been found, the tow yard sold it at a lien sale for $3,595—a fraction of its value.

Premier Towing claimed they couldn’t read the owner’s info (despite it being “perfectly legible” on the police form).

“Premier Towing accused them of lies and slander… meanwhile, they sold their RV without telling them.”

Nothing builds customer trust like selling someone’s home-on-wheels and then calling them liars.

4. Geico’s Masterclass in How Not to Handle a Claim

The couple filed a claim with Geico, who denied it because the RV had been “recovered” (even though the Sorensons had no idea).

Their reasoning? The couple “failed to secure the vehicle after recovery.”

“Geico’s final response was that because the RV had been recovered by the police, they were not obligated to compensate them.”

Geico’s motto: “We’ll find any loophole to avoid paying you—even if it defies logic.”

5. Lessons Learned: How to Avoid This Circus

Here’s what RV owners can learn from this disaster:

  • Choose storage facilities wisely (gates should require codes both ways).
  • Install a live GPS tracker (AirTags won’t cut it—thieves aren’t carrying iPhones to help you out).
  • Add a fuel cutoff switch (because hotwiring should be left to Hollywood).

“Your RV was actually stolen three times: once by a homeless person, once by a towing company, and once by an insurance company.”

If this story doesn’t make you triple-check your RV security, you might deserve what happens next.