Camp Security

Not that it's much help but I share your anger.

Suggestions:
Try to camp in more isolated spots.
Trip wire connected to a microswitch which sounds an alarm.
Battery powered passive infra-red alarm.
A notice reading "Thieves will be shot".
A few pressure mats connected to an alarm.
Infra-red beam type perimeter alarm - expensive-ish.

Mike Harding

As Mike has said, we all share your anger towards scumbags like this. My dog comes with me to most spots and she has saved my fishing rods for sure one night. I don't leave much lying around any camp anymore even if it takes a bit extra time to pack it up and unpack it every night and morning.

Happy camping next time.
Regards, Trevor.

Hi Ron,

It’s a real shame that it isn’t like the ‘old days’ when you just left everything lying around when you went fishing/bushwalking etc especially in popular areas.

We’ve lost stuff a few times and it has always been on the coast near a town and when the weekend comes so do the local cowboys. Leave camp for a couple of hours and return to find something missing.

If going for longer than a weekend, we tend to hang around camp on the weekend and then do what we want when the weekend warriors have left.

I have a few lengths of chain and padlocks which we put through each other and thread through table, chairs, ice box, gas cylinder, canoe etc. It’s still only a deterrent, but unless they bring bolt cutters they would have to pick up all the gear together to take it. This is only in areas we think are suspect. It also depends on the situation; if going for a walk and you have introduced yourselves to nearby campers, you can ask them to keep an eye on things and do the same for them.

As for smaller stuff; it has to go in the car. We don’t usually worry about pots and pans and other odds and ends but definitely torches, lanterns, day packs etc. Strangely enough I’ve never worried about fishing rods but I usually have them leaning up against a tree and they aren’t as noticeable being away from the table etc which is where the opportunistic bastards focus their attention.

Even on day trips when I take the canoe out or go bushwalking, in the back of my mind I’m wondering what condition the car will be in when I return. Sort of detracts from the good time I’m supposed to be having…..

On the other hand, as Mike said, a bit more remote and it's all good; just like the old days lol

Regards

Brian

Suggest you need an angry dog or two - on loooong leashes.

A local went down south with his family recently for camping & fishing trip,came back from fishing & some mongrel had taken the tandem boat trailer, couldnt get the boat or the camping gear home. a couple of locals arranged for a lone trailer at least to get back to his home
Trailer was found a few weeks later minus all 4 wheels down some lonely bush track.
these mongrels are lower than a snakes belly.

Thanks for replies.

I've calmed down a bit now from a raging inferno to just smouldering!!

Unfortunately going more remote is not really an option as we go to this dam to fish, and have done so for years, and I refuse to be hounded from our spot by thugs!

Buying a dog is too big a responsibilty, but I may be able to borrow one occasionally.

However I'm actually thinking on trying to rig some sort of 12v passive infra red sensor, wired to a 12v flood light, may get triggered by the odd possum, but at least would hopefully scare off some louts if they thought we had turned a light on them.

Its left a real bad taste about the place we love to go, geez you almost need to keep a watchman up all night!

Biggest problem with these lowlife cretins is the fact they run in numbers. If you scare or challenge them they are likely to use their numbers and you could end up being bashed up as well as happened to my mate in WA many years ago. Not an enviable situation if you have the family with you.
Court system needs a bomb put under it as there doesn't seem to be a large enough deterent for these &^#%holes.

Back off my soap box now......

The last time that happened to me I didn't bother with the verbal challenge about my gear. Another couple camping beside me told me where my gear was and I just walked into their campsite and reclaimed it without even bothering to talk to them. The surprise they got (because I was told exactly where the gear was) when I just walked in and took it back in the early morning was enough. Before they had a chance to recover I went back and suggested that they clear out because; the Police were coming, I had witnesses and their fingerprints were all over my gear. They vanished very quickly!

1) camp away from people - avoid caravan parks and places your standard soft roader can go if you need 2 inch + lift and a winch as back up to get to your spot -- you should be ok

2) have a dog that barks when people are about

3) become a light sleeper


Boc

If the scumbags know what you have on board you will never have a problem.

may their chickens turn to emus and kick down their dunnie

if you believe in what you give to the universe you shall receive back.....them B....s have yet to receive
sorry about your bad luck
Bri

when we go camping i take some stainless steel wire, its about 5-6mm thick. when im away from camp or go to bed i rap the wire through the items and then lock it to the patrol. its about ten metres long and has eyes each end and very hard to cut. with some thought you can have some type of loops welded to light poles and things to thread it through. all up cost about $70.00 dollars from boat supply place.
cheers shane.

Bring back the cane


OH NO Ray we could'nt have that,Too many do-gooders in Western Society...

I recall camping as a young fella over Moreton Island for a few weeks. One time while we were out for a day trip some low life flogged the old mans jerry cans. Was he pis*ed off. Lucky some of his mates were coming over for the weekend so he got them to bring over some replacement fuel.

Little did I know that one of the cans was a set up trying to catch them at it again. Few days later driving down the beach came across a old clunker stopped on the beach. The old man got out to see what the problem was.

A little while later he got back in and all he said is that will teach them to flog my fuel. Still not sure what was in it, but sure made the old man happy.

Not sure if I would have the guts to do something similar, but the though would cross my mind.

What is mine is mine, but I will always offer a helping hand - but don't expect my stuff to get flogged.

Nafty.

I was camping up at the Wellington dam December last year. Was paddling out on the dam and notices a "rope" from a dead tree in the water. Out of curiousity pulled the rope and copped abuse from some others camping nearby as they obviously had a marron trap in, fishing out of season.

Anyway, I moved on but when packing up next day I started getting the feeling that some of my stuff was missing. In particular the connection between my car and camper trailer. I suspected that they might have wandered through camp when I had my boys off touring around.

Anyway taught me a lesson to put those things away as it was hard work driving home knowing I had no indicators etc.

My two bobs worth as it sucks that you can't leave your gear around anymore.