Theft in camp

[CAJUN LADY]

I've got a driveway monitor also...got it from HF and never thought to use it while camping...good idea!

I've never had a problem so far with anything being stolen. Raccoons have tried me a few times but not for things I would have ever thought they'd like - charcoal, soda and beer. Hmmmmm, at least I think it was raccoons.

I always lock my camper and car doors at night, which is just common sense. I leave my chairs out, bike (sometimes I lock it, sometimes not) and camping stove. I have never felt unsafe camping except once.

And sorry guys but I don't have the attitude that if they steal it then they must need it more than I do. I bought it, it's mine! Don't steal my junk!

[traveler]

Hey Madjack, do you think that someone could get that Bigger gun across the Canadian Border??????????????????

[Larwyn]

Started out tent camping, had a regular cab pickup so everything could not be locked up at any one time. Never had anything come up missing. Stuff that I put out on the picnic table, around the outside of the camper, or in the back of the pickup purty much just stays there until I am ready to leave. I still use a pickup and still cannot under any circumstances put everything inside under lock and key.

One contributing factor to my luck could be the fact that I have never felt like all my gear needed to appear to be new unused. I like my camping gear to be old, battle scarred and "half worn out" kinda like myself I reckon. Most thieves like bright and shinny things, I don't tempt them with much if I can help it.

If a thief walks up and sees a camp with just a tent or camper and a couple of chairs set out around an old ice chest and the camp next door has a satellite dish, solar panels, a passel of shinny new Coleman products scattered around, which camp do you think they would choose to pilfer? I'm not saying that the thief wants your satellite dish, only that it is like a "billboard" advertising "the good stuff is over here!".

[Wild Bill]

In 40 years of camping I cannot recall anything missing from a campsite. I may have left something behind but never recall anything stolen. Have had the usual masked bandits raid the cooler. Had a big coon on my picnic table in broad daylight at 5pm at Chain O Lakes state park. Always try to clean up before dark, this one was out a bit early. They rained down from the trees at dusk, never saw so many coons in one place at one time. Saw kids feeding them marshmellows.
Something I would NOT recommend. I do lock things up. The world is now full of people where entitlement is common and they think nothing of taking what they feel they are entitled to. Cops carry guns in the event the brain thing does not work. I like the option of having both and hope I only have to use one of them.

[caseydog]

We had a small gathering at Woods Canyon just northeast of Payson, AZ a few years back and the rangers came to tell us to watch out for someone going around shooting campers and signs with paint balls. The next day they said to lock up your generators as a few had been stolen the night before. Probably the same person or persons that where shooting paint balls. I have camped a lot and every where and that is the only time I heard of stuff like that.

Driving up to a gathering at Petit Jean park, as I got deeper into Arkansas, I noticed that every road sign, and I mean EVERY one, had bullet holes in it.

CD

[gregp136]

We do lock up the car at night, and the food from Racoons, but no, we do not worry about theft. We have camped mostly in Wisconsin, but also in NC, Pennsilvania, IL and Ohio. And no, I do not carry a gun. I would hurt myself long before I hurt someone else.

Greg(and Laurie)

[Wolffarmer]

in wyoming. we can actually go to walmart leave stuff in plain site doors unlocked with no problems we are not like New york here.

we live with no working lock on the door of our house. I have never had a door locked on the door of my house in 25 years or more.

we leave my dad and me up to 8 yehicles in the yard at home and 3 or 4 tractors combine and so on with keys in the ingention 24/7

if you have to live inside your house with the door locked you need to move!!!!!!!!! you have a definet problem.

I never could get that in my brain how some people come home and are at home with the front door locked. and they call that fun ordnary life.

Slowcowboy. .

About like me here in Idaho.

Only problem I have had camping was one time I and 2 friends went backpacking for about 4 days. Took their car to the trail head and it was broken into while we was hiking. They didn't get much, did more damage to the car and our faith in humanity.

Randy

[Weirdnerd]

I have had my share of scares in south America, I never leave anything unattended, everything locked up or put away immediately after use, call me paranoid, but when I wake up, I know I still have whatever I brought with me.

[Big Dan]

Yes it sucks Pulling into the trailhead, all excited about the hike and see broken glass all over the ground. Then you get to spend the whole trip worried about your car.

[Wolffarmer]

Last time I went back packing was in the south west corner of Yellowstone. Trail heads are at the ranger station there. I was about to head out when the Ranger's wife stuck her head out of their house and told me to put my motorcycle on the other side of the sign so she could watch it better.

Randy

[robfisher]

At trailheads I've just resorted to leaving the car unlocked. Saves break in damage. If it's only a partial day hike and the weather is good I'll leave the windows down also. And anything edible in the trunk. My stuff isn't worth steeling.

[Miriam C.]

A few weeks ago someone threw a ratchet and socket in my truck. Broke the window, $60 in a junk yard, but the thing had a name on it. I had the officer take it in just in case it too was stolen. Nothing taken! Even my tools.... Quit locking the doors just in case someone was just looking to get out of the weather.

[Big Dan]

My neighbors car was broke into for a pack of smokes. $200 damage to the door. I hate thiefs. PS I love that show (Bait Car)