Well, that's 3 sites we've been to in the last 2 years that have had thefts! It wouldn't stop me going back to any of them, but it will make me a lot more careful, particularly at night. I always hide valuables anyway, but will be more vigilant with other items as well now.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
our camper has the magnetic contact alarms on every window, and every door is alarmed. We never leave windows open at night anyway, only leaving the two hekis open on the roof. Our only worry is the bikes on the bike rack, but they are not too expensive if stolen. When we use the tent, all phones and valuables come into the sleeping compartment and are kept under the pillows.
Let's face it, when camping in a tent, your belongings in it are basically protected by a piece of cloth. You rely on your fellow campers to look out for you, as you look out for them. I am bemused as to how so many units were targetted at one time, with no-one raising the alarm.
If your tent was slashed, or caravan/motorhome window broken in the night, would you raise the alarm and wake other campers, or would British reserve get in the way? Not something I have thought about before. What would you do? Bearing in mind there are people with knives or hammers roaming around outside. Not a pleasant thought.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
See my post about Neptune - he certainly raised the alarm, and probably half our section of the site witnessed him running down the road without a stitch on! Mind you, my OH would have done just the same!
We should all resolve to make a fuss if we witness anything untoward on campsites or anywhere else.
There are reports, though, that everything is done so silently that no-one actually notices anything amiss until the following morning.
Quote: Originally posted by minicamper2001 on 05/10/2011
Let's face it, when camping in a tent, your belongings in it are basically protected by a piece of cloth. You rely on your fellow campers to look out for you, as you look out for them. I am bemused as to how so many units were targetted at one time, with no-one raising the alarm.
If your tent was slashed, or caravan/motorhome window broken in the night, would you raise the alarm and wake other campers, or would British reserve get in the way? Not something I have thought about before. What would you do? Bearing in mind there are people with knives or hammers roaming around outside. Not a pleasant thought.
Fortunately there is no evidence that I have seen that suggests anyone being attacked personally. The people that do these sorts of crimes want to do it quietly so they can do more units. Often people react totally out of character, like chasing someone naked( ) when they find themselves in this sort of situation. I bet if Val had asked this chap the day before whether he would do it I bet he would say no! One way to attract attention to this wrong doing would be to sound your car horn. Might not make you very popular but it would likely put an end the the thieft of property, at least on that night.
The bikes at Neptune were chained up to the bike rack at the back of the van - and the thieves just snipped through the strong chain like it was butter - so they come 'tooled-up' as it were!!!!!!!!!!! I don't think there was anything more that the owner could have done, short of taking them inside the van - and the site security guard was on duty from dusk - patrolling the site!
Sign of the times, I'm afraid! Sad as it is! I did have a crisis of confidence about whether I should mention it on the forum, but just after we got back there was another post about thefts, and I realised that people need to know that it can and does happen - and that all these stories are not just 'folk-tales'. It's sad when it happens on a site that you know and like! It won't stop us going back, though!
I take on board what you say about the thieves coming equipped, if they are determined they will get what they want. But at least our bike-locks are not just chains, they were very expensive and made of high tensile steel, which would at least mean they couldn't be sliced through like butter, and therefore hopefully potential thieves would not waste their time, as they are mostly opportunistic and are looking for a quick get-away.
As well as that there are inbuilt locks on each of them, which go through the back wheels, so even if they did manage to slice through one, there would still be another to deal with. We did go the extra mile buying these expensive additional locks as they are expensive bikes.
You did the right thing mentioning it on here, it is no reflection on the site as such, rather a reminder to everyone to be on their guard and realistic in where they keep their belongings. With tents it won't be so easy though, so I would certainly be looking to rent one of the site's safety boxes if I had a tent, for my valuables like passports.
------------- Ina
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Ina -, can you send me a link for these locks they sound perfect. I don't have the most expensive MTB in the world, I think its current RRP is £1,800, but it has sentimental value but it was the first thing I bought with my inheritance when my father died.....now OH's bike is a gem (4k) so yes we need decent locks.
------------- CAT
Favourite site:
Camping Nanzel, Limone, Lake
Garda..perfect for MTB, Kayak, SUP and fell running training.
Favourite areas: Provence, French Alps, Savigny (as a stop over for Southern France: Rhein valley as a stop over for Italy. 78
Quote: Originally posted by BobCat10 on 07/10/2011
Ina -, can you send me a link for these locks they sound perfect. I don't have the most expensive MTB in the world, I think its current RRP is £1,800, but it has sentimental value but it was the first thing I bought with my inheritance when my father died.....now OH's bike is a gem (4k) so yes we need decent locks.
I can give you the website link for it, but we bought them in Holland, me being Dutch I prefer Dutch bikes, so we both got Dutch bikes and bought the locks, plus some other bits and pieces over there.
The locks we bought are designed to link in with the integral locks which are standard on all Dutch bikes. They lock into where the key of the integral lock goes, but I would imagine that there are other types of lock available, because that type of lock would be of no use on an English bike which as no integral lock.
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: Thefts at Gandspette
) when they find themselves in this sort of situation. I bet if Val had asked this chap the day before whether he would do it I bet he would say no! One way to attract attention to this wrong doing would be to sound your car horn. Might not make you very popular but it would likely put an end the the thieft of property, at least on that night.
