We are new to camping .. on all previous holidays we have always been able to secure our holiday home when heading out.
So .. should we be looking to 'lock' our tent when we go out?
We would like to think there is a certain code of honesty amongst campers, but I guess you can never be too sure ...
Should we be locking ipods and mobiles in the car when we head to the beach/pub? Or just hide them well in the tent?
We're not planning on taking very high value items (the 40" 3D plasma screen and silverware can stay at home! ) .... but we would appreciate advice from other campers at to what we should look to do regarding security of our tent and possessions ...
We have a Vermont XLP so 3 'doors' to think about!
------------- The Kale Family Campers
Test 1st camp - June, Witterings
August - 1 week in 'sunny' Croyde at Ruda
August - bank holiday weekend, Boarhunt, Hampshire
I wouldn't bother locking your tent because if they want to get in they will. However, anything like mobiles, ipods etc I would keep locked in your car.
Thanks for the advice ...I mistakenly double posted my thread (no idea how I did that!) and have had similar responses from other campers ... guess it's a leap of faith to trust other campers .....but lock my important items in the car!
------------- The Kale Family Campers
Test 1st camp - June, Witterings
August - 1 week in 'sunny' Croyde at Ruda
August - bank holiday weekend, Boarhunt, Hampshire
With a tent if someone wants to get in its very easy to do so because of the fabric walls. As said above, just take sensible precautions and lock expensive things away or take them with you.
Tent break ins are very uncommon but popping a lock on a tent just screams "there's something in here" and could actually lead to a break in.
Quote: Originally posted by poppet156 on 09/5/2012
I wouldn't bother locking your tent because if they want to get in they will. However, anything like mobiles, ipods etc I would keep locked in your car.
Echo that. Make friends with your neighbors too, that way they will know your face so will know if it is not you at your tent. When we have been camping, we have done this and would challenge someone going to a neighbors tent that we didn't recognize. Campers in the main are good folk and look after each other. It's just a minority that try to spoil it for everyone.
------------- Jewelsm - a fair weather camper
August 2013, 14, 15, 16 & 17-Trevornick for two and a half weeks of sea and surf (and ever optimistic -lots of sun). Some other weekends if I can persuade DH
Just common sense really, I think most campers tend to watch out for each other, but we always take anything of value out with us, usually just laptop, camera, phones, etc.
------------- May/June - Spring Valley
Aug/Sept - Leekworth
Just lock your valuebles in the car when you go out. I hav'nt had anything go missing so far. Touch wood.
Most people when they leave the tent, make sure the tent is zipped up. That's about it.
heath63
------------- New Year: Hesketh Bank
Feb/March: Red Squirrel
March: lakes
June: Morecambe
Aug: Lake District(not camping camping)
October: Red Squirrel
If they want to seal from a tent they can. If its locked then they will just use a knife to cut open a doorway .
A new Vermont XLP costs £900 you don't want that ruining on top of anything else.
Just take valuables with you/lock them in the car.
Having said that we have never had anything go missing before and that includes stopping on a site thats on a very busy coastal path with easy access and plenty of passers by.
I no longer tent camp, but when we did we used the old trick of sticking a dressmakers metal headed knob pin inbetween the teeth of the zip just under the closer. The result is the zip cannot be pushed down to open until the pin is removed, and as its so tiny, and not visible until your very close up, and therefore doesnt scream out to passers by that the tent is locked due to containing valuables, only you know its there and if you make it a rule that adults only enter and leave the tent first/last to close down the zips then kids dont need to know what you have done!
Julia
------------- Just love to be out amoungst Nature and Wildlife
Celebrating 37 years of Caravanning in 2019, Recently Considered Retiring, but Totally Addicted for Life!
My vote goes for the "meet thy neighbours",,(our neighbours left a pan on their stove last year,all we heard were popping eggs and could smell burning, The stove was very near the side of the tent,so we rescued the pan and turned off and moved the stove...) campers we have met would help each other rather than steal from anyone. Have never locked a tent and have never had any problems.
------------- March- Padstow
April- Forest Glade
June-Grizedale
July-Jedburgh
and lots more besides
Quote: Originally posted by romany girl on 09/5/2012
<!--bmi_SafeAddOnload(bmi_load,"bmi_orig_img",1);//-->I no longer tent camp, but when we did we used the old trick of sticking a dressmakers metal headed knob pin inbetween the teeth of the zip just under the closer. The result is the zip cannot be pushed down to open until the pin is removed, and as its so tiny, and not visible until your very close up, and therefore doesnt scream out to passers by that the tent is locked due to containing valuables, only you know its there and if you make it a rule that adults only enter and leave the tent first/last to close down the zips then kids dont need to know what you have done!
The only theft from a tent I've experienced in 37 years of camping was when a squirrel got in and helped himslef to our apples.
Never locked a tent, but we take phones, cameras and handbags etc with us or hide them in the car. At night, valuables come in the sleeping pod, anyone getting in there would be greeted by two stroppy terriers and me wielding a large Maglite torch.
Never had a theft from my tent ever...Even on the worst campsite I was ever on....But common sense tells you to lock things you hold dear in the car out of sight when your out and about...
I vote for the "Greet the neighbours" approach...You could be spending any thing from 3/4 days to 2 weeks in these peoples close company Those around you..and yourself soon develop a sense of who should be about any of the tents around you...A stranger hanging about would (and should) arouse suspicion...The eyes and ears of those around you are your burglar alarm and CCTV all rolled into one....
Jelboy.
------------- Campers of the storm,Into this world are born
You can attach somekind of personal alarm to the zipper if it calms you down, but that's all it does.
Everything valuable stays in the car that you are not carrying with you. Proper travel insurance calms me.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Do you `lock` your tent?
) .... but we would appreciate advice from other campers at to what we should look to do regarding security of our tent and possessions ... 
heath63
