Are thieves that bad near you??

[Whitty]

Reading on another thread where people are looking at ways to secure solar panels to protect from thieves, it made me realise how lucky I am to live where I live. Camped last week at Eurimbla NP just near home and the crew across from us ( obviously southerners - NSW plates, Lilly White skin, no idea how to play footy...) would lock their CT and boat trailer to a tree whenever they left the camp. With chains. We we're gobsmacked. Why would you do that? Would someone actually drive half an hour into a national park on a 4wd track, pack up a camper, hook it to their car and drive it out of the park? We spread ourselves over the full length of our site, kayaks, fishing gear, unchained CT, keys left in ignition of 4wd, generator, fridge, all out in plain view and all in the knowledge that no-one would steal any of it. I'm thinking you people further south than me probably don't have the same faith in their fellow man?? I have also taken friends from Brisbane out in the boat to one of the islands in the harbour, and someone had left an esky, fuel tank and 15 hp outboard on the high tide mark to pick up later. The visitors couldn't believe that A. someone would do that and B. someone hadn't stolen it already. We couldn't believe that anyone would think to take it. Yes I've lived next to druggies who would steal the steam off your piss on a cold morning, and next door to some brothers from another mother who liked to treat my stuff as their own, but it seems the crooks don't tend to travel too far away from town when they want to knock something off. How bad is it where you are, but specifically out where you camp??

[nbd73]

Alas camping is not the exclusive domain of decent people. There are thieves in all walks of life. I've had fishing rods and alcohol stolen from a vacant camp site at Moreton Island whilst out and about. Don't judge these southerners too harshly, your attitude may change after you endure your first robbery. People work too hard not to protect their investments. Sad but true. Have a google read of Inskip Point camping theft.

[GeoffA]

.........obviously southerners - NSW plates, Lilly White skin, no idea how to play footy....

Yeah, probably throwing the ball.....

We've camped in plenty of places, north, south, east and west.
Never had anything taken, but I'm not naive enough to believe it won't ever happen.
A prudent person would take some precautions. It only takes 1.......

[chisel]

Inskip is notorious for thieves.

[KingBilly]

We spread ourselves over the full length of our site, kayaks, fishing gear, unchained CT, keys left in ignition of 4wd, generator, fridge, all out in plain view and all in the knowledge that no-one would steal any of it

Not too sure if you are a bit naive or just too trusting.  Firstly I wouldn't leave the keys in my vehicle at any time no matter where.  Loose stuff like fishing gear goes inside the vehicle or tent before leaving camp.  Out of sight, less chance of light fingers walking past and helping themselves.  Fridge etc gets one of GG's security cables, again to stop the opportunist thief.  I'm not naive enough to think it will stop the determined thief with bolt cutters or battery angle grinder but it will make it harder for the dick who spots your camp and you are nowhere to be seen.  BCF without the checkouts 

Anyway, good luck but I'm sorry but I just don't have your faith in my fellow man these days.

KB

[GeoffA]

.........BCF without the checkouts 

Five-finger discount....

Midnight market....

[Socks]

I'm like the people you camped with. I think it goes way back o having my house robbed several times as a child and then at age 21 walking into my house while the thieves were still inside. I trust no one with my stuff and make a point of checking twice and locking stuff up.

While I haven't had stuff stolen camping, I'm still weary of people and don't trust them, so lock it all up

I'm sorry but I just don't have your faith in my fellow man these days.

KB

Yes, sad but true


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[Murph]

sad but true indeed ! I do a lot of camping in the North East Victoria and in the last 10 years stealing from camp sites has gotten worse . I now take the attitude that I only take old well used items with me camping ! So an old timber table for outside the camper , not worth stealing! Old Bunnings chair ! $10 not worth stealing ect!   I suppose the increase is directly linked to the explosion of people getting away to the bush these days !  Upgraded tracks making two wheel driving more accessible to out of the way places and those places not having any toilets ,rubbish bins ect. Some people just don't know how to look after themselves without such items lol! Makes ya wonder ?  But it is the attitude " I don't have one of those so you shouldn't either " that is a real pain in the rear end !

[Whitty]

Yeah, I'm not that naive that I think it doesn't happen, it HAS happened to me at my house, it's just that where I camp it's not that bad that you have to lock a fully setup camper trailer to a tree with a chain that a D11 couldn't snap 

[Murph]

Cordless chainsaw to cut down the tree? Lol!

[Variflex]

We've had stuff stolen from our campsite at night whilst sleeping, both times it was in a caravan park that was open to anyone to walk through, guessing it was opportunistic teenagers though, steeling alcohol from esky's etc., the really disappointing thing was that the CP owners were aware that it happens every Friday and Saturday night but didn't inform us to lock or put our gear away at night

[baldheadedgit]

We've had stuff stolen from our campsite at night whilst sleeping, both times it was in a caravan park that was open to anyone to walk through, guessing it was opportunistic teenagers though, steeling alcohol from esky's etc., the really disappointing thing was that the CP owners were aware that it happens every Friday and Saturday night but didn't inform us to lock or put our gear away at night

That was an expensive weekend that one.!!

[2003gxl]

Its sad time when we have to worry about locking everthing up when we are away camping. I lock everthing up when away camping for peace and mind , but if they really want something they will take it.

[doc evil]

Don't go camping where there are other people...........simples.....................

[Kangaron]

Don't go camping where there are other people...........simples.....................

What he said.
If you can see or hear another human you are in the wrong spot.

[alnjan]

Reading on another thread where people are looking at ways to secure solar panels to protect from thieves, it made me realise how lucky I am to live where I live. Camped last week at Eurimbla NP just near home and the crew across from us ( obviously southerners - NSW plates, Lilly White skin, no idea how to play footy...) would lock their CT and boat trailer to a tree whenever they left the camp. With chains. We we're gobsmacked. Why would you do that? Would someone actually drive half an hour into a national park on a 4wd track, pack up a camper, hook it to their car and drive it out of the park? We spread ourselves over the full length of our site, kayaks, fishing gear, unchained CT, keys left in ignition of 4wd, generator, fridge, all out in plain view and all in the knowledge that no-one would steal any of it. I'm thinking you people further south than me probably don't have the same faith in their fellow man?? I have also taken friends from Brisbane out in the boat to one of the islands in the harbour, and someone had left an esky, fuel tank and 15 hp outboard on the high tide mark to pick up later. The visitors couldn't believe that A. someone would do that and B. someone hadn't stolen it already. We couldn't believe that anyone would think to take it. Yes I've lived next to druggies who would steal the steam off your piss on a cold morning, and next door to some brothers from another mother who liked to treat my stuff as their own, but it seems the crooks don't tend to travel too far away from town when they want to knock something off. How bad is it where you are, but specifically out where you camp??

Yes some people are a bit dishonest and like to take advantage of an overly trusting fellow human being. 

By the way when you have your gear knocked of and driven away in your vehicle, who are you going to blame when the insurance company says, "As YOU left YOUR keys in YOUR vehicle WE are NOT paying YOUR claim."   Oh and that is followed by the Insuance company saying, 'there will be no further correspondence with this matter' 

[MattNQ]

We've had stuff stolen from our campsite at night whilst sleeping, both times it was in a caravan park that was open to anyone to walk through, guessing it was opportunistic teenagers though, steeling alcohol from esky's etc., the really disappointing thing was that the CP owners were aware that it happens every Friday and Saturday night but didn't inform us to lock or put our gear away at night

If you did find out ahead of time, I reckon it would be worth sacrificing a bottle of bundy and lace it with laxatives for them:D

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[muzza01]

If you did find out ahead of time, I reckon it would be worth sacrificing a bottle of bundy and lace it with laxatives for them:D

How about strychnine instead of the laxatives. 

[alnjan]

syrup of ipecac



if you don't know it


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrup_of_ipecac

[BigJules]

We've been lucky when camping, though plenty of van parks on the NSW Coast are notorious for theft. On our way to the National meet we stayed at Bonny Hills, who had been knocked over the night before. Half a dozen of us wanted to bait a few sites and wait up, but reason prevailed.


Julian

[achjimmy]

I think van parks are the worst. I lock stuff up for peace of mind regardless of where I am and never leave keys in car (besides it being illegal its stupid).  You are very naive if you think scum thieves don't exists in QLD , FNQ, NT or anywhere else. Wasn't there a stealing epidemic recently on Fraser?

And as for leaving an outboard laying around?. Do Marinas in QLD need locks or security cameras?

[Bird]

Would someone actually drive half an hour into a national park on a 4wd track, pack up a camper, hook it to their car and drive it out of the park?

Of course they would Why wouldnt they?
people come in by boat on fraser island and clean out campsites..

I'm thinking you people further south than me probably don't have the same faith in their fellow man??

No, people are scum..  search the forum for stolen trailers.

[GROB]

It does not matter if you lock every thing up  LOCKS only deter the honest thief   IF THEY WANT IT THEY WILL GET IT

[sschmez]

Sorry Whitty
They're normally very trusting campers .......


















but they were a bit worried about the campers opposite them

 
Stevo

[Coiled]

I have been camping my whole life and have only ever had things stolen twice and both times in caravan parks
1) Byron Bay back when I was about 10. They stole our Morey Boogie Boards & flippers
2) Back when I was about 17 at Yamba we had a visit from the local indigenous community. They took our fishing rods, a pair of thongs and left the camp fridge open (Nothing was gone because no alcohol.)

I never used to lock things down but after Yamba and stories of Inskip & Straddie I have always made a point of minimising opportunistic theft where possible as it is a sad but true reality of camping these days which I think is partly due to the ease of accessibility.

These days camping gear is more valuable and often uninsured unless secured so rather than having to deal with being pi$$ed off and finding cash that could have been spent on something else when it inevitably happens I keep everything locked that can be and besides camp chairs don't really leave anything of value lying around.