Theft in camp

[canned o minimum]

The point is..give a thief the opportunity.and HE will take it !

[Zollinger]

We never had a problem with the two legged thiefs, just the 4 legged masked bandits. Scott had his cooler wedged under the bus/camper and they rocked the bus back and forth while his buddies pushed the cooler out. He was so dang mad they stole his Miesfelds summer sausage. To this day we ALWAYS put the cooler in a vehicle.

[toolman]

Please tell more about this "driveway alert" gizmo.

I was just looking at the HF web site and saw this one.

http://www.harborfreight.com/wireless-d ... 93068.html

I assume that this is what was mentioned.

Jerry

[T@Baker]

I, too, have been camping most all of my life. Never had a single thing stolen...until about four years ago when EVERYTHING was stolen.

We were camping in an area that was becoming more and more "the party place", but I loved the area. It was on the banks of a river, but there was a tourist cave nearby that many would come off of the interstate to visit. As a female with two young teens and a mom in a wheelchair, I parked at the opposite end of the bunch. Although I was in my new 2-room cabin tent, I choose a spot along with MHs and TTs. There is a small motel bordering the CG, and that's where mom was booked in a room. (pic attached)

Close to dark the wind began to pick up, and a ranger came through evacuating the CG because tornadic winds were moving through. I tried to take my valuables, but he rushed us out. He was telling people to go to the cave until he re-opened the area, but I explained my mom was in the motel, and we'd join her.

I noticed people returning around midnight, although we'd received a ton of rain. Bursts of wind, but mostly rain. Campfires started sprouting up, and I watched from our motel window. The next morning a little before 8:00 I returned to our site to find everything gone. Now there could be the argument that it blew away, but I find it difficult that all traces would be gone. I would expect to see my tent stakes in the ground, some of my dishes, tent poles, chair bags, lights....something. I had a huge queen high-rise airbed. The MHs and TTs had left, and the tent campers "knew nothing".

I filed a police report, and insurance replaced everything. Quite the experience.

[godskid]

Wow! I'm glad you got reimbursed, at least. And I hope you had been ready for the trip to be over? Or did it get shortened due to lack of tentage and etc?

[T@Baker]

We could have stayed in the motel, but what fun is that? The day before was our kayak float, so we got to do that.

I finally got to understand the violation people speak of when they've been robbed. I can't imagine this happening to your home. For weeks afterward, something would come to mind that, oh, ya, I don't have that anymore... Usually it was little things, but something hard to replace that you really liked. For example, my mom and I used to take her MH to festivals. Years ago at one of those events she purchased two wooden, collapsible tools with camp scenes wood burned on the top. I had one with me that weekend, and she's using it in this pic. This was taken the day before the CG was evacuated.


I still have the other one! That stool is small, probably worth nothing, but holds tons of camping memories for me with my mom. She's now almost 87 and taking chemo. Things like that mean a lot.

[planovet]

Opportunity may encourage a thief but no amount of opportunity can make a non-thief become one. The "thief" is already in there or it is not.

Bingo!

And that's why I hate the word "entrapment".

[godskid]

I used to have two stools like that. I gave them away, and haven't seen them since at a price I was willing to pay. They're very nice and portable.

[pete42]

I have a "driveway alert" I place the transmitter in the truck the receiver in the trailer if someone opens a door it goes off, I don't have a vehical alarm.

Please tell more about this "driveway alert" gizmo.

it is a small transmitter sorta like an outside night light that comes on when someone approches but instead of turning on a light it sets off an alarm inside the house, camper or motel room depends where the receiver is placed. The one I have is set off by police radios, radar or something in their crusiers makes one jump out of bed during the night when the police drive thru the motel lot checking on things.
they can be bought on line

[caseydog]

If I have to worry about someone steeling something of mine when camping, I'll quit camping.

...or seriously rethink where and/or with whom I am camping with.............................

I'm with Gage and MJ. I don't camp where I don't feel safe.

I keep my valuables in the TV, which is locked if I'm not around or I'm sleeping. That's just common sense. I lock the food in the TV overnight, but that's because of the raccoons.

At South Central Gatherings, I'm surrounded by my friends, which is better than any security system.

However, I do lock my TD doors at night at gatherings. Who knows what some of my "friends" might find humorous at 3am.

CD

[Corwin C]

I rarely camp around other people or in campgrounds. For me, the more rustic the better. I've never had anything stolen (except by the "critters") but at the same time most everything is either put away or at least out of sight.

Around here, the best places to camp are first-come, first served. It's amazing how often someone will pitch a tent, leave a camp chair and an old cooler just to hold a site for the upcomming weekend. I've never heard of anything ever being disturbed. (Although it is frustrating to see a good campsite with no one actually there.)

[doitright]

It is "opportunity" that makes a "thief"....reduce their opportunity and use a bit of common sense.


I refuse to stay home because sum idiot MIGHT steal my stuff...

I also refuse to stay at home but one year we went camping for two weeks came home and everything was gone and I do mean everything.
Opportunity may not make a thief but around here METH will.

doitright

[Shadow Catcher]

I am going to go along with the "it is just stuff". We come in to this world with nothing, and the "he who dies with the most toys wins" saying, well life is terminal and there is only one thing that survives and that is the good that you have done.
This does not mean that I will not try to keep temptation from those who would stray

[canned o minimum]

Good theory thar Slowcowboy..."I" came into this world with "nuthin"...and after 2 divorces ( in Cali.) I olny have HALF of "nuthin" left... Muahahahaha !!

[zippypinhead]

Forty some years ago as a young boy, I was camping with the family. When we set up camp, there was a very nice, friendly young couple in a full sized trailer next door.
The next morning, couple and trailer were gone.... owners of the trailer showed up that afternoon wondering what happened to their trailer.
We figured the young couple had overheard that they would be away and took the opportunity to steal the trailer. Dunno if they ever got caught.