Camp Security

Matt,

I have never had a problem but I always close my tent up (also in case it rains) and put anything valuable out of sight or hidden if smal enough.

Anything really valuable gets locked in the car.

Matt,

Work on the theory that everyone else is like you. We all are out travelling because we love it. Usually everyone respects the possessions of others it's just the small minority who might be tempted to "lift" someone else's gear.

Until recently we never had anything "go missing" but we were camped in a cp in Singleton last month, woke to the sound of rain on the camper roof, looked out the window and saw a bloke rifling through the crate that we'd left on our table. this was just beside my window. He bolted when he heard our voices, dropped the crate and off. We thought we'd be so fortunate and divine providence had thwarted our would be thief. This was until two days later when we thought we'd have a celebratory drink . Guess what? He dropped the crate but he took the bourbon. If I'd know that I'd have chased him!!

Viv

Matt,

In all the years that I have been camping I have never had a camp site touched.

I do take a few precautions though.

Things that can go inside a tent get pack away, chairs and tables are stacked together, the fire is alwasy put out, and the place left tidy.

Gas bottles and anthing that is portable is also out of site.

I have come back to camp and a tarp or a tent may be down but that ws caused by the wind.

Wayne

.

Matt, what the other guys said.
Despite that, my biggest 'fear' is coming back and finding that some low life has hooked up the CT and pinched the lot.
To help prevent that, I carry a length of high tensile chain. I put it through one of the wheels and attach a large lock. I put the lock behind the wheel where it is difficult to get at to try to break it.
When hooked to the vehicle, I put a lock through the hole in the end of the hitch pin.
Probably not entirely necessary, but I relax a lot more when we leave the rig unattended.

Like others, we take reasonable precautions and have never had anything pinched from a camp site.

I take all the reasonable precautions only had 2 nasty incidents, once I was completley done over at Bourke by bored kids and at Merimbula I had the contents of my Waeco freezer taken....

Matt,
I personally haven't had a thing taken in many years of camping all over Aus. but I have learn't a couple of things to be aware of.The biggest target for "outback" thieves is the popular Engel fridge(or Waeco) so make sure and keep it out of site if possible and maybe secured.One year 3 fully stocked Engels were taken at Cable Beach C.P. on the same night----I believe he was later caught.Another thing to beware of is remote boat ramps as the would be thief sees you leave the ramp for your fishing trip and he has free time to "inspect" your car.A good sign of danger is broken glass in the carpark area.Also when stopping for 2 mins. to buy that loaf of bread LOCK the car as there may be some nogood eyes looking at your well packed up car----and don't laeve the key under the bull bar.Hope this helps and enjoy your travels.

The only bad incident we had was in a crowded caravan park in Margaret River, WA. A scumbag tired to walk off with our esky full of beers until he got some rough justice dealt out.

Never had a problem free camping...I trust the vermin types in some of the caravan parks less than I trust other free campers.

Mind you, as most have suggested, avoid the tempatation....90% of most theft is opportunity...we leave our Waeco and generator covered and locked in the car when we're not around.

When we are around I chain the generator to the van bumper.

But then again it only keeps the honest people out....if they want it bad enough they'll take it...

One of the worst boat ramps I remember was East Arm Wharf in Darwin. We turned up to find about 8 cars had broked windows and stuff stolen. Lucky they'd struck abf left before we got there. There we several ramps around Darwin that accepted a fee for secure parking while you were out...

Wizard
Gold Coast

Mate of mine told me it got that bad at the Bohle River ramp in Townsville, people started taking everything worth of value out of the car & they were still getting broken into, finding nothing, they would slash the seats & tyres, so they started leaving $10 on the seat of their unlocked vehicles to save the broken windows, slashed tyres & seats.
it stopped the b@stards vandalising but still not a solution... there is only one for scum like this........

Chain and padlock through wheels , and a small padlock between the 2 zippers on the tent.

Wont stop a determined thief , but may just deter an opportunist one.

Hi Matt,

We've been fortunate to have never had anything stolen or vandalised in 20 years of camping. However, I know two people who have had Engels stolen from their camp. Our Engel stays in the vehicle at all times. I suppose a determined thief could still break in and steal it but it takes a bit more time and effort than simply picking it up from an unattended campsite and walking off with it. Engels aside, we generally leave anything of value in the vehicle with things like satphone and camera out of sight. Laptop is kept locked in a draw of our storage unit. Lesser valuables such as camp chairs, tables, gas bottles, stove etc we always leave neatly stacked by the campertrailer and keep our fingers crossed. Always close up the kitchen and camper when away from camp which is good policy against local wildlife as much as low-lifes. We recently added a solar panel to our set-up and its security is a cause for concern as it is a highly desirable and portable item. We do not have it out unless we are at camp and before our next trip will be fitting a lockable carry bracket to the camper so that except when in use, it will be secured and out of sight. As a previous post has already said, our biggest concern is returning to camp one day and finding the whole camper trailer gone. I suppose at the very least we should buy one of those Treg hitch locks as a deterent. Lastly, if all else fails - INSURANCE!

:o) Melissa

Avoid Campgrounds near pubs. At Southwest Rocks people camping there would see hands resching under the Annex after pub closing time - locals seeing what they could pick up. NOTHING was left outside the tent overnight.

Mike

We have never had anything stolen from our campsites, but we have had low-lifes steal our fish out of the bucket!! Once when we had the bucket in the shade under the car on a quite beach, and the other time was just recently on a busy beach on Fraser with all of the cars lined up and plently of people around.

Noel

Not quite what you asked but I carry a battery operated Passive Infra Red (PIR) alarm for those very rare occasions when I camp near to civilization. I set it up pointing in a direction where I think people may approach - never had any problems though. I also take it when I visit 3rd world countries and have to stay in "interesting" places :) Also use it in the top end in case crocs decide to wonder into camp at night - but given their low body temperature I don't know if it would detect them and I am happy to remain ignorant :)

As for stuff around camp: I'm usually sufficiently remote no one is likely to come along but if I'm going to be away prospecting for a few hours and I'm close enough in that theft is a worry I leave a note on the dashboard saying "John - gone shooting rabbit nearby - back soon". Never had anything stolen :)

Mike Harding

I've heard some foul gossip and rumour that if anything gets pinched when camping, that you can keep schtumm and tell your insurer it was pilfered from your garage. Then they pay on your household polcy.

Now really, what sort of a low dog would rip off an insurance company. Flogging with the "cat of nine" needs to be re-introduced.

I have been involved in the caravan park industry for about seven years now and hav found that esky's left outside tents are the main targets for the young ones.
We once set up a dummy site using a 2 man tent and an esky with vb stickers on it to catch the ofenders but hooked up to the esky was a personal alarm (the type used for ladies handbags) as we were walking back to our vantage point at the office the bait was taken and we had only walked about forty meters. the alarm had drawn enough attention that some guys camping close by had tackled and caught th thief. these little alarms work well and are only about $15

Steve

we dont have any probs when camping. but then we invested in a very hi-tech system. he is 50kg, black and tan, and only friendly to those that we want him to be friendly with!!! (he believes that all of our stuff belongs to him, and if you steal it, your stealing from HIM!!!)

Thanks folks there was some good advice here, it appears that the main item that is at risk of being stolen is GROG.

I think that I will drink mine and lower my risk.

Again thanks Matt

I would hate to try and steal my own Tropical Ice Box as it weighs almost as much as my CT when laden with all the ice bricks and beer!

I have never ever had anything taken for campsites! The only thing we have of value that is left out if the gas bottle and lamp! Everything else is in the back of the car, which is locked should we be in bed sleeping or away from camp!

Nobody has mentioned the best theft deterrent and that is a set of eyes! When camping near other people, ALWAYS tell them you are leaving your campsite unattended, and ask them to keep an eye out!

Jo