Theft: the bad, the bad, and the really bad

I unlock the door on my MH when we get set up in the campground at Oshkosh and don't lock it til we leave for home 2 weeks later. We've been staying in the same campground, with the same neighbors for the past 15 years.

We set up our outdoor kitchen, leave the lawn chairs out, along with tool boxes, grills, etc. Never had Anything stolen. I think if someone came through, tried to swipe something, they'd be tackled before they got too far.

Sleepy Hollow Farm Campground during the EAA Convention is a pretty close knit "family". EAA, for the most part is a different mentality of people too. Heck, there's wallets full of money turned in to lost & found on a regular basis.

I don't really worry about stuff at Branson either.

One time, long ago, when we camped with a pop-up, our cooler was chained to the trailer. The thieves couldn't get the cooler easily so they just took the beer.

We are full time and have never had a problem. The post above that mentioned awareness is correct. If you pull in and see lots of crappy rigs, broken cars, junk, and other ****, either move on or keep it tight. We always lock the rigg and the toad. Bay doors, chairs etc depends on what the park is like.

never had anything stolen. At night or when we leave we lock up the chairs, grills, etc.

wa8yxm wrote:
In over 30 years of Camping only been ripped off once (First time out with my first trailer) I was in a state park and theives came in the night and when I woke up I found I'd lost my breakfast, (lunch, Dinner, Super, everything that was on ice in the cooler).

Got a new cooler, New ice, new food and since there was no room in the triler locked it in the car at night.

Only time I've been ripped off.. I stay mostly in private/membership campgrounds and there is an appearance of security.. this appearance seems to cut down on crime... State and other government parks often do not have that look so thieves feel more comfortable there.. and are.

I kept thinking I needed to get a new cooler, Fill it with ICe and soft drinks but first put a piece of boiler plate in the bottom and about a half inch air craft steel cable to a nearby tree.. Thieves put it in trunk, take off, cable plays out, trunk is ... Opened.. When the boiler plate comes out of the thign

Very impressive, not all that costly

Did a similar action on a USAF base one time. We had a maintenance officer who liked to patrol the flight line in his little Fiat convertible. If he saw a tool box sitting out, he'd grab it and take it to his office, then make the owner report to him to get it back.

Guys welded an iron ring on the bottom of a tool box and used a short piece of chain to lock it to a grounding ring on the concrete. Yep, here came Major Whatsisname, opened his door, grabbed the handle of the tool box, stepped on the gas, and was almost jerked out of the car. He changed his patrol habits after that.

Have camped extensively all my life and never had anything stolen.

The best preventative is to have junk that nobody wants.

Never had a problem myself. I think common sense goes a long way. A lot depends on where you are camping (party RV camping or wilderness camping) too. Get a feel for the environment. Mainly, I wouldn't leave expensive stuff out. Little $12 camping chairs we do and other misc items. The main thing is if they want it they will get it. Take precautions but don't live in paranoia. Consider any Joe Blow with a 3ft. crowbar will be able to break into ANY RV door. A huge pair of bolt cutters will chop any lock. It's just a reality. So go and have fun and be sensible and just take precautions to avoid "tempting" thieves. I would myself lock bikes but not a cooler's handle.

I have been camping in some form for 50 years or so and have never had anything stolen. I do lock the bikes up but leave out the gas stove, chairs, bar-b, firewood. All good.

In over 30 years of Camping only been ripped off once (First time out with my first trailer) I was in a state park and theives came in the night and when I woke up I found I'd lost my breakfast, (lunch, Dinner, Super, everything that was on ice in the cooler).

Got a new cooler, New ice, new food and since there was no room in the triler locked it in the car at night.

Only time I've been ripped off.. I stay mostly in private/membership campgrounds and there is an appearance of security.. this appearance seems to cut down on crime... State and other government parks often do not have that look so thieves feel more comfortable there.. and are.

I kept thinking I needed to get a new cooler, Fill it with ICe and soft drinks but first put a piece of boiler plate in the bottom and about a half inch air craft steel cable to a nearby tree.. Thieves put it in trunk, take off, cable plays out, trunk is ... Opened.. When the boiler plate comes out of the thign

Very impressive, not all that costly

I had a bottle of booze and a few beers taken. Or maybe I drank it.