Theft in camp

[canned o minimum]

It should be the LAW...Everyone carries a GUN..the playin field is evened out then...Austrailia jus OUTLAWED guns...what a MESS that place is NOW !...


"If they outlaw guns...only outlaws will have em" !

[doris s.]

I agree with Gage and Casey!

I have never had a problem camping. I camped all over the USA alone with my three small children. I figure if someone ever does steal something they must need it more than I do.

As for the post about guns...I have a brain, I don't need a gun.

Doris

[Miriam C.]

I vote we don't let this thread dissolve into a gun thread!

[canned o minimum]

AGREED Auntie Em...

[starleen2]

Now here is some common sense - don't leave something outside that you couldn't live without. If it's out in the open - then it's an open invitation! PERIOD. Sorry to be so blunt - but that's the way it is. I have a friend who bought a new car hauling trailer and left it parked in front of his home next to a busy highway - we told him to lock it up - or at least put a hitch lock on it - sure enough, within two weeks it was gone - never to be seen again. There are things that you can do to prevent theft - Sure if they want it bad enough, they WILL find a way, but you don't have to make it easy for them. My spare trailer sits in the back yard with one tire removed and on a stand. By golly if they want it bad enough, they're gonna have to bring a tire or an extra trailer to get it - and it ain't gonna be no 30 second steal either!

And just for the record: them pesky little raccoons ain't no saints either! coolers locked in cars are a safe way from being raided. If animals can get into a locked car -then I don't want to be THAT close to one who can

[atahoekid]

:o I vote we don't let this thread dissolve into a gun thread!

+1

As far as the theft issue goes, I developed a habit that I still have since I grew up in L.A. You lock everything of value down. End of discussion. If it's missing and you didn't lock it down, that's your own fault. If you did lock it down and it still disappears, then you have a right to be angry.

My kids grew up in a much smaller and theoretically safer environment and even though they've been victimized a time or two, I still find the car doors unlocked and stuff in plain sight. I have a hard time feeling sympathy toward them since I've tried to instill the lesson but...

It's kind of sad when I think about it. I have a neighbor who's lived in my current neighborhood for over 20 years and they never lock the door unless they are going to be gone for an extended period of time. Me, I lock everything, even if I'm only gone for a few minutes. I guess that's what big city living does to you.

So the short answer is anything that I value gets locked away at night. If it disappears, then I only blame myself but thankfully I never had anything disappear.

[stumphugger]

I put stuff away because of weather and critter issues.

I try not to travel with a lot of stuff. Which reminds me, I need a kayak rack for my pickup.

The kayak has a built in thingy to run a cable through to lock it up and make the thieves go get a universal key--bolt cutters. Hardware stores gotta make money too, eh.

[doug hodder]

And just for the record: them pesky little raccoons ain't no saints either! coolers locked in cars are a safe way from being raided.

I think that Joanne has the worst story for the above statement...thing is...ya just gotta remember to roll up the windows! Sorry Joanne...it was just there. Doug

[cherokeegeorge]

Woo Hoo, party in Joanne's suv. bring all your little racoon friends and in case there's not enough food....bring some with you.

As for theft I put everything away at night, its not that much work because I keep a neat camp. I hate having a cluttered campsite.

Sometimes you don't have much say in your neighbor. It's a bummer when you grab a site and 6 hours later bad partyers or generators move in next to you.

[emiller]

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.

[Big Dan]

We went camping over on the olimpic peninsula and at the ranger station was a posted worning about some escaped prisoners from a near by prison Slept with one ear open that night.

[Ratkity]

In 1986, when camping with a huge university group in Yosemite, we piled up all of our duffle bags in a pile to be stuffed in our luggage van.

In the few secs we had our backs turned while packing, two bags were stolen from the pile. Just clothes and toiletries and hiking boots, but we were poor students. I'm sure it was just kids, but they were never recovered.

We camped 51 nights all across the US that summer. That was the only problem we ever had. It still made an impression on me. Never leave out anything in plain sight you can't part with.

BTW, I am scanning in the slides I took of that trip right now. Wow, lots of memories coming back! We live in beautiful place!

Hugs,
Ratkity

[legojenn]

I tend to camp in eastern Ontario and northern NY. I find it generally safe to leave stuff out, but the rain will ruin stuff if you do. I tend to put stuff away to keep it dry (if I go to bed sober).

[Redgloves]

Theft: my experience has been in 3 forms:

as the campground host warned: cooler bears, male teenages seeking beer, sure enought, struck our group.

masked bandits: eggs and other cooler items

"neighbor campers" firewood.

Other interesting experiences in Minnesota State Park:
Fargo/Moorhead area at Red River SRA: cops and park patrol chasing homeless drug seekers

Great River Bluffs State Park: sherriff and city cops searching on foot and four wheeler for a missing, suicidal camper

Jay Cooke State Park: searching for a geocache, left car windows open, door open, and keys in ignition for over an hour: noting missing

Criminals know no social or economic barriers. Same thought for those who do good.

[kstephenson]

Its best to lock and secure items that you value.....thieves are everywhere.