Advice on theft and real world realities

About the biggest problem seems to be when someone leaves a nice shinny red Honda generator out in the open. Some of the disappear. Can't say I've ever met anyone who's had an RV break-in or stolen.

Bill

Theft is rare but it does happen This is why you have insurance. As for the guns, you need a locking gun safe, not just a hidey hole but a gun safe with a secure lock that is kid proof, same as at home and for the same reasons. Double lock is even better (Example, put it in the basement). If you rely on guns for protection, I feel sorry for you, There are better ways to protect (IE: DO not open door to drunken strangers). (There is a story about that, here on the forum no less, Search for RVer sues Walmart or something like that). (This was a odd case, You see, Walmart is not used to winning).

If you are really worried, there is a device on the market by Verizon, it combines several functions into one small cube

1: Wi-Fi hotspot (Verizon cellular data)
2: OBD-interface
3: Vehicle Traking See note below

Here is the link http://www.delphiconnect.com/

As a police dispatcher, I can tell you that it is a ton of fun when the owner has a tracking system installed that works over the cell network :).

I do not yet know if this device is compatible with systems other than Verizon, and since Verizon is not compatible with me I have not tried it (Their cuss-some-more service dept has not made me happy).

Plumber101010 wrote:
First time buyer. First time to Everything. MOTORHOME. FULL TIMER. I am the quintessential NEWBIE. Hope it works out as we envision... Been reading on break ins and motorhome theft.

Now there is reading and there is real world. So first, how often is a 40 foot motorhome really stolen? My mind says rarely and you'd have to be a moron to steal something so dang big. Is that naive, newbie thinking?

I'm a gun fanatic. So yes, bringing guns and ammo and such. Already know I have to find a secret hiding place, even making one behind a wall or something. But again, are these things really broken into?

Thanks ahead of time :) Any advice on carrying guns helpful too, like is an rv considered your home or a vehicle when it come to guns?

We have been camping for a very long time, and have never had any trouble that you speak.
we are cautious, lock the coach when we are away.
we don't leave valuable items in clear view.

and we have a decal on the door that says "smile, you are on camera"

Be careful with your guns, don't show them around, (unless you are at a range)
there is no state that considers shots in the back, as self defense. loss of property is not a reason to kill.

Simply use common sense.

I got a pretty good story on this topic. When I was a kid in the mid 80's, my dad had a 34' class A southwind that we took everywhere on vacations. Seems like every other weekend or at least once a month we went somewhere for a long weekend, it was great. We went to the palms springs aerial tram way one time probably back in about 1987 or so. Took the RV with all of our stuff in there, my dad had shotguns and rifles, ammo etc.

So we went on the tram for about 4-6 hours(restaurant at the top is cool). This was in broad daylight, during the day. Came back to the RV to find the driver's door window broken out, door lock wrecked, and the entire RV ransacked. They took our clothes, guns, ammo, and whatever money or jewelry was laying around. There were tons of people around in the parking lot and this still happened. So yes, it can happen!

That being said, I carry guns with me also, but I don't find myself being worried that someone would break into mine. I hope they are dumb enough to try and get in there while i'm in there, because they will die of lead poisoning quickly.

Rarely. I've been camping since I was a kid (about 100 yrs or so). Rarely do we see thefts at campgrounds. Usually, the ones we've heard of was when college kids stole an ice chest full of beer (therefore we avoid campgrounds with lots of college kids or out of control adults). Another was a friend's RV was broken into and trashed and things stolen...it was on the streets of New Orleans....in a bad area. Watch where you camp......anything can happen anywhere. Now, I WILL say this......after reading stories on this forum for years......I've come to the conclusion that a lot more break ins and thefts occur in the east. Maybe it's because the campgrounds are more crowded and a denser population in general, I don't know.

As for the guns.....do a search on this forum. There's probably answers to questions you didn't even know you had.

Broken into, yes. Stolen, not as often. There are lots of valuables in most motorhomes so yeah, they get broken into often. Mostly while their in storage as opposed to set up in a campground. I have heard of cases of motorhomes being stolen, but it doesn't happen that often.