Beware of New Norfolk Holiday Park, Taz

While I can certainly sympathise with you about your expensive loss. I think its a little unreasonable to blame the park. Caravan parks are very difficult to secure and it is impossible to stop low life's from wandering through making opportunity thefts.

And just to clear up the technical side. This was a theft.

A robbery is a theft accompanied by violence or threat of violence.
Apart from that the onus is on you to secure your property not the holiday park.

cheers, Case, Tauranga, NZ

When I was a little boy I got into trouble for not putting things away. Don't leave the bike on the front lawn as it may disappear and other stuff like that.

Now 55 years later I am wondering why on earth did you leave out and unsecured. Do you lock your car at night. I wonder. When I got my own car I made sure the surfboard would fit inside and not just "ocky" strapped to the roof.

Phil

the other thing to do is to somewhat take matters into your own hands

when you see these people -and usually there very easy to spot - tell them to turn arouind and ...... go away

I used to live at the end of a road with nothing else down there and id see them walking down towards the club i was caretaking, head them off and tell them to turn back theres no reason for them to be here

yea they started complaining it was a public road - I couldnt care less the only business they had was no good and therte was no hope in heck there were continuing

Secure your boxes with coach bolts placing the nut end on the inside of the box, then use a titanium padlock. Cheap insurance.

Most thieves are opportunistic and will only steal things that are easy to nick.

Fab

Hi Carlo, isn't it a shocking feeling having something stolen! :( I recently had the hubcaps stolen off my Ute in my driveway in broad daylight! :( New hubcaps are $496! :O But, worse than the cost is the feeling of being violated! I'm looking at everyone that drives past my house wondering if they took them! But please don't blame the poor caravan park mate! They had no chance of keeping the mongrels who stole your stuff out of the park. Caravan parks are very public places. Most of the time, I feel my stuff is safer there than it is at home, but it looks like you got shafted! Lay the blame where it lies my friend; with the gutless, lowlife, scum who stole your stuff & the businesses that make a profit by accepting & reselling stolen goods as if it's OK! All the best, Kevin

As part of my retirement I am a N.S.W. Volunteer in Policing.

Prior to doing this, and since, I found that if you ask caravan park proprietors/managers to hand out caravan park security documentation, and there is plenty available, you will find that there is lip service, and that's all.

They don't want the punters to think that their park is prone to larcenous activities, because people will shy off, so the stuff we provide is either chucked out or placed under the counter out of sight. This I know.

There's quite a lot you can personally do to enhance the security of your chattels whilst on the road and it doesn't take much effort or imagination to come up with ideas. Chains or stainless steel wire and a quality padlock are one such item that can be used to some extent, but the best thing is really being aware of the fact that theft occurs and to take counter action. Lock your van when going to the showers or the office, don't go together, have one person stay behind, don't give mummy all the money so she can place it in her handbag and put it near the door, plant it somewhere so it's hard to find, take note of anything that has a serial number and keep it, photograph items, lock up your vehicle plus the back, and the caravan boot, and place the keys where they cannot be got at.

I know that these are simple things, but thieves rely on complacency, and if you are on the ball at all times, opportunistic crooks will give you a wide berth. See they have about 5 seconds to operate, and if that window of opportunity isn't there, then they miss out.

If you do happen to be a victim let the cops know, don't worry about the importance or whatever, even an attempt to break in or knock stuff off, but because if they don't know, then they don't do anything and will focus their attention on places that they know are locations where crime is committed.

Of course if the caravan park people got off their backsides and did a walk of the place, particularly in the early evening, when guests are often absent and challenged anyone who looked suspicious or out of place, it would assist greatly, but sadly they tend not to.

We stayed at New Norfolk a couple of years ago for a few days. We had a great stay there and no problems with theft etc.

I think it's unfair to blame the park for the thefts. Thieves are usually opportunists in caravan parks. If you secure your property, you shouldn't have any problems.

Isn't it sad that in in these days of being so politically correct we cant say what the problem really is.