Camping and Thieves

Or leave your pet python in the vehicle...not too many theives will tangle with one of those :)

One of those blow-up dolls, hat half over the face, looks like someone having a nap in the car.

Good for other things when going beddy-byes.....hehehe.







A PILLOW

Cheers.....Lionel.

Hi Klaus

We have had no security problems - but we avoid cities and large towns. As you say, you are OK in the outback. We toured in the north west of WA this year, as well as the areas around Alice Springs. People left tents and camper trailers in place while day touring or taking the walks with no problems - only other campers like ourselves were there. Most people only have cameras or their wallets that anyone would want to steal, and they take these with them for the day's touring.

Generally a locked vehicle with no sign of valuables (or indication they are there - eg GPS and phone cradles) is safe. You shouldn't need to go as far as the dirty laundry trick!

If in camp grounds, generally your neighbours aren't a risk - only if people sneak in from the town with ill intent are, which would be most uncommon. We have not personally seen this happen - only the very rare report from others who say to lock your caravan when visiting the bathroom in some towns. Be friendly to your neighbours in the camps and you should have no problem.

Reported thefts from camps have been things like generators from outside of caravans. Otherwise the risk of burglary from the average suburban home is far greater than from a camper.

Enjoy Australia

Motherhen

No great problem out in the bush but have had friends robbed in the Alice when in a caravan park, They were asleep in the tent beside the car, thieves smashed the window and stole anything not screwed down. Apparently happened to a few other campers the same night.

http://www.ezitrak.com.au/

have one each in boat and 4wd.

Declaration of interest - I USED to be an agent for them a couple years back - no longer any commercial affiliation currently.

With that outthe way IF your in a GSM mobile phone coverage area - then obviously the unit will ring you IF it is set off in any way...by someone breaking in to your vehicle.

To do this you can have installed as we did several "peripherals" to trigger an intruder alert.

We chose:-

1. PIR (Passive Infrared Detecor) - like your movement sensor lights it detects body heat and triggger sif anyone gets into the vehicle.

2. Break Glass Detector - sound of breaking glass of a window being broken to gain entry will trigger the alarm.

3. Dome light trip -opening any of the doors will trip the alarm

4. Magnetic reed switches on the rear sliding windows

5. Volumetric Microwave Detector - measures the internal volume of the vehicle - anyone entering takes up space that shouldbe empty and triggers the alarm.

In any of these instances - the alarm rings tyou on your mobile and sms's you and a second phone numder you program in.

In addition - it has a GPS tracker in it - If anyone:-

1. Tows or rolls / pushes, trailers or trucks your vehicle away - the GPS tracker will tell you where it is by both GOPS co ordinates as well as bearings and distances form known cell phone towers (2 methods of pinpointing)

2. Anyone jump or push starts your vehicle - the alarm will again ring and SMS you and a second nominated number.

3. In the event of a jump start the alarm system via a menu on your phone has an "engine disable function" that shuts off the fuel to the engine simulating an out of fuel scenario - thus allowing you to disable the vehicle when police instruct you too for them to effect arrest.

4. a few zillion other features that probably are better not mentioned in public.

5. Our insutrer gives us a rebate on our insurance BECAUSE of the track disable alarm - enough in fact to pay for the alarms cost over 5 yrars of insurance savings.

They are not cheap - but then neither is losing your vehicle & gear when your a zillion miles from anywhere.

Cheers!

Hi Klaus

What a fantastic website. Your geology pages are wonderful, and so much better than what i could find when researching for our recent travels. I saw a couple of people with sophisticated camera gear in key locations on our trip. Maybe one of them was you.

Thanks for sharing your work with us. Motherhen