Author Topic: Swag/Tent Camping Security  (Read 5611 times)

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Offline Chris.

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Swag/Tent Camping Security
« on: April 16, 2017, 09:43:19 AM »
We're planning on a trip to central Australia & will be staying in swags or tents in caravan parks for some nights. Those of you who have done this, what did you do each morning, did you pack up your whole swag for the day when you went out sightseeing & then set it up again at night or did you just leave it there while you're gone? Just wondering if swags & tents get stolen?

Offline trinityalyce

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Re: Swag/Tent Camping Security
« Reply #1 on: April 16, 2017, 11:03:46 AM »
When we've travelled we usually leave our tent set up and pegged down if we're in the one place for a few days. We don't leave anything of value out though. When we did Cape York those who had swags and camped under their awnings set up and packed up each day for obvious reasons (can't leave the awning behind when its attached to the vehicle!). We haven't had issues thus far.
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Offline lincolnland

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Re: Swag/Tent Camping Security
« Reply #2 on: April 16, 2017, 02:20:03 PM »
bloke from work had all hos gear ie tent awnings sleeping bags all contents of tent even the tent pegs pinched from his spot along the murray. bastards were in and out and took absolutely  everything in an extremely short time.

Offline trinityalyce

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Re: Swag/Tent Camping Security
« Reply #3 on: April 16, 2017, 03:08:44 PM »
bastards were in and out and took absolutely  everything in an extremely short time.

That happened to my locked house once too. TV off the wall and everything.

My point is that unfortunate luck can happen anywhere. Looters can take advantage of unsupervised camp sites, evacuated houses (just look at what people were talking about after Cyclone Debbie and with the flooding in Rocky), and even securely locked homes. I guess it comes down to how much you let it stress you - we don't leave anything around at a campsite when we're not there that would be "worth taking" other than the tent. Yes, there's a bit of money in the tent and it would ruin a trip, but for the most part its pretty low risk compared to leaving the Weber Q for them to steal or something.

It takes a lot of effort to steal a tent, and if you're camped somewhere with other people around (like your caravan parks) its less likely - you'd have to be pretty brazen to drive up to someone else's camp, pack down their gear, and drive off without someone clueing on to the fact its not the same people and vehicle hanging around as what was there earlier! Don't leave valuable gear lying around that might entice someone to take your stuff. Common sense and all that. I personally wouldn't leave a swag for that reason also - too easy to take. There's no guarantees its not going to happen - just like having our house locked didn't stop the buggers from breaking in and taking what they wanted when we got broken into. Little things can help make you less of a target.

Make the decision that works best for you. :)
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Offline TonyF8

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Re: Swag/Tent Camping Security
« Reply #4 on: April 16, 2017, 03:30:40 PM »
I use one of these, never seem to have any worries.
Stay safe and play fair.

Offline lincolnland

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Re: Swag/Tent Camping Security
« Reply #5 on: April 16, 2017, 04:52:11 PM »
bet deterant ever. got me two of them.

Offline Chris.

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Re: Swag/Tent Camping Security
« Reply #6 on: April 16, 2017, 05:05:44 PM »
When we've travelled we usually leave our tent set up and pegged down if we're in the one place for a few days. We don't leave anything of value out though. When we did Cape York those who had swags and camped under their awnings set up and packed up each day for obvious reasons (can't leave the awning behind when its attached to the vehicle!). We haven't had issues thus far.

Okay thanks, I'll probably have a swag which is a lot easier to nick, I may have to pack everything up each day.

Offline vern

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Re: Swag/Tent Camping Security
« Reply #7 on: April 16, 2017, 06:56:34 PM »
But didn't you say you were in caravan parks? I wouldn't worry

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Offline Chris.

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Re: Swag/Tent Camping Security
« Reply #8 on: April 16, 2017, 07:13:44 PM »
But didn't you say you were in caravan parks? I wouldn't worry


Yep most of the time, I just figured that more gear is probably stolen if left alone in a caravan park that if I was out bush on my own?

Offline vern

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Re: Swag/Tent Camping Security
« Reply #9 on: April 16, 2017, 07:16:28 PM »
The caravan parks that i have stayed in in central Aus are like fort knox, and there is always plenty of people around.

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Offline Chris.

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Re: Swag/Tent Camping Security
« Reply #10 on: April 16, 2017, 07:19:39 PM »
The caravan parks that i have stayed in in central Aus are like fort knox, and there is always plenty of people around.

Okay cheers mate.

Offline vern

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Re: Swag/Tent Camping Security
« Reply #11 on: April 16, 2017, 07:22:21 PM »
Where are you planning on stopping?

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Offline glenm64

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Re: Swag/Tent Camping Security
« Reply #12 on: April 16, 2017, 07:22:48 PM »
But didn't you say you were in caravan parks? I wouldn't worry

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Offline vern

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Re: Swag/Tent Camping Security
« Reply #13 on: April 16, 2017, 07:24:32 PM »
Only honest people stay in van parks?
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Offline Chris.

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Re: Swag/Tent Camping Security
« Reply #14 on: April 16, 2017, 07:57:51 PM »
Where are you planning on stopping?

Leaving from Adelaide I'll stop at Coober Pedy first night, then in Alice Springs for the next few days, then out to Yulara via Palm Valley & Kings Canyon for another few days, then back to Marla & down the Oodnadatta Track for a few days to Marree, then home. I'll try & stay in caravan parks & campgrounds wherever possible.

Offline vern

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Re: Swag/Tent Camping Security
« Reply #15 on: April 16, 2017, 08:04:38 PM »
Cool. I have stayed at most of those places, they are all fine, so many grey nomads around to keep an eye on things.

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Offline Pebble

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Re: Swag/Tent Camping Security
« Reply #16 on: April 17, 2017, 11:30:11 AM »
We have a camper trailer and swags, have stayed in a mix of caravan parks and bush camps. I would certainly not go to the trouble of packing tents / swags up every time I want to go out....pretty much may as well have a rooftop tent etc in that case.

Generally we shut the kitchen on the camper (don't usually lock it, but could). We put a u lock through the camper hitch (because technically anyone with the right hitch receiver could tow the whole thing away). The kids swags always stay set up, on the camper only the flyscreens are zipped down. And we even leave the camp stove etc on the table most of the time. Only time we would fold up camp chairs is if the weather was going to turn.

I guess really you want a balance, keep valuables and easy targets our of sight / locked up if possible (thinking bikes, gennies or whatever) but don't pack up so much that it looks like you are going to be gone for a long time.

If someone was going to come along and pinch the kids swags and stuff like that, it would be pretty bad luck I think. I can't imagine whole tents get stolen that often?
Of course in some places criminals do at times target caravan parks for easy pickings like bikes and what not, this might be late at night when you're there but asleep though, or it could be a lot more brazen.
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Offline pommiedic

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Re: Swag/Tent Camping Security
« Reply #17 on: April 17, 2017, 07:59:49 PM »
Introduce yourself and talk to your neighbours as soon as you've set up; they are more likely to keep an eye on your stuff.  Plus don't worry about what might happen too much, as it will ruin your trip.
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