The latest Caravan Club magazine has a letter about the Gandspette site near calais in Burgaundy.
The letter is about several thefts on this site for eight caravans and one tent has anyone else encountered problems on this site or was this an isolated problem.
We are booked on this site in late July and would like a little peace of mind. Obviously normal security with our equipment would take place as well as using the old common sense.
Look forward to any comments
Neill
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
The latest Caravan Club magazine has a letter about the Gandspette site near calais in Burgaundy.
?????Calais in Burgaundy. Got all excited then, as we are heading there this May/June and thought it had been moved a lot closer
Just read the letter and the writer was actually on his way home FROM Burgundy and was staying at Château du Gandspette where this happened.
Well, other than what you have already said, I can't add much more really. I haven't stayed on that site myself, so cannot comment. Only other thing is that we have a safe in the van (not telling you where!!) bolted to the floor in which we keep passports, important papers etc. Yes, if anybody ever steals the van then they have the safe with them, but the van has an alarm system and they would be very lucky to get into the safe, other than with some sort of a steel cutter. As the majority of these thefts seem to be opportunistic, I doubt most thieves would go to such lengths, although I'm not naieve enough to think we are immune from theft.
Also, be aware on supermarket carparks, especially near the ports and the same goes for motorway service parking. I suppose campsites are easy targets, as people can just walk on and off on most of them without being challenged, unless they are guarded. But even then some campsites we have stayed on, have paths coming on/off them which are in the middle of the site, not even at the main entrance, so again, another opportunity for the less desirables of mankind.
I read this article too - and it was apparently describing incidents which took place in September 2008 or 'in the preceding few weeks'. There's a similar letter on the Practical Caravan forum dated 29th September 2008, describing some thefts. I did find it extraordinary that a Dutch camper would carry 1,000 euros with him in cash - but each to their own, I suppose. At the time I responded by writing:
We were at Gandspette in September - and didn't hear of this at all. The site is so well-managed that I'm surprised we weren't warned (especially as we have been there so many times now that we are welcomed with the obligatory kisses).
However, if burglaries are happening there then all us campers and caravanners are at risk, because basically a tent or an awning are not easy to 'fortify'. It's sad to think that crime may be invading what used to be one of the least 'risky' ways to holiday!
We've been many times to Gandspette, as I said including in September 2008 - and we've never experienced any problems at all. It's a lovely quiet site, tucked into the grounds of the Chateau, in the middle of the village - so you'd think someone would see suspicious activity going on. I would hope that the management will take any appropriate action with regard to security on the site. We enjoy our stay there at the end of our twice-yearly jaunts to France - we'll not change this because of this report. I just suppose it means that wherever we holiday now we will need to be more vigilant - and hide all our valuable away in the many secret little places all over a caravan.
Like Val we have stayed at Gandspette many, many times and its our preferred last stop before returning home. I was therefore shocked to read that letter in the CC magazine. The problem with any tent, caravan or motorhome they are not the most secure of places and people do tend to leave things laying around and if anything it should perhaps encourage us all to think about how and where we store things. Have to say that it won't put me off going there again.
I think its fair to say many sites inn many countries during a season may suffer some criminal activity I think its a credit to most campsites that there is so little of it after all as stated before most units cannot be made thief proof
Having said it was lovely - the one downer when we stayed there was a group of English teens (school? Club?) who were very loud and badly behaved. We watched one of them carve their name into one of the tables in the restaurant- they weren't even trying to hide the fact. We told horrified staff what was going on so hopefully it was dealt with.
That was in early August last summer - don't suppose it's related?
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
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: Gandspette thefts
