After 12 years at the same campground without any issues, this winter we were not so lucky. 49 different sites in the campground got broken into. Good news is that the thief was caught red-handed and is sitting in a correctional facility awaiting his court date. What was really interesting is that with some RVs he broke into, he was able to just "POP" the door open on many different manufacturers but others he had to really destroy the door to get in. Our camper door and the frame have to be replaced because we used the dead bolt to lock the door and we had long screws securing the dead bolt. The guy had to try at least 12 times to get our door open.The police told me that the RVers should treat their doors like the doors on their homes and use better/longer screws to secure the strike plate for the locks. If someone is intent on gaining entry they are still going to get in, but they are going to have to really work at it.

Been there, but it was at a storage lot, not a campground. Sorry you have to go through with it. While in storage, I just used the door, didn't bother with the deadbolt and the "thief" busted that lock easily. I figured they were looking for items to steal, we had none. So I locked the deadbolt figuring that would keep them out. It did keep them out, but they sure tried to get in. They broke the window and tore the metal at the window trying to get in. They never did get in, but I had to replace the door and frame as well.At least they caught the guy that broke into yours. Never did find out who broke into ours and I don't think the police really cared.-Michael

You can get into any RV with a flathead screwdriver or if you're really intent just a few sets of keys will open most of the RV on any given lot.Why get your rig all busted up trying to keep them out?? Locks are only there to keep honest people honest, the rest are coming in.

The police figure that the guy did more than $100,000 worth of damage to the RVs as well as 9 homes around the lake. In the homes he took the copper piping, the furnaces and anything that he could sell. In the RVs he took whatever he could sell and it doesn't appear that he damaged anything but the entry point.

They get in thru the skylights, too.

At one of the storage lots we had our RV at, the thieves used pry bars to bend up the lower corner of each door enough to reach in and undo any locks if the door had no window. If the door had a window (like ours) they smashed the window and reached in to undo the deadbolt and door lock. Luckily we were at the end of the line, I guess they ran out of carrying space, so they only took a couple of ski vests and a portable radio.

Trailer got broken into. Thief totally destroyed the door.

Winged_One
Explorer
Apr 03, 2015
We had our door destroyed plus other damage the winter before last, so I feel your pain. He hit about 100 trailers at the local county run storage.

This winter, I didn't lock it. He was homeless and only took clothes. Better to take out the valuables and save the cost and hassle of a break in. They want in, they will get in.
Wishbone51
Explorer
Apr 03, 2015
In my case, I accidently left it unlocked, and they stole my power converter, which wasn't cheap. Not sure if they would have busted in if it was unlocked.
seaeagle2
Explorer
Apr 03, 2015
around here the meth heads hit the game department fishing access parking lots (think secluded areas near the homeless encampments along the river) People are finding if they have a locking gas cap, they punch a hole in the bottom of the tank to get gas... if you don't have a locking gas cap, they siphon it out, but usually there is enough left to get to a gas station, and you don't need a new gas tank....
Mainevacationer
Explorer
Apr 03, 2015
Our trailer is on a waterfront site on a lake in New England. That area had an enormous amount of snow this year. You can see the camper from the lake really well. We were lucky that the thief closed our door to the best of his ability so that you couldn't tell that it had been broken into unless you were really close to the camper. He broke into at least 9 homes on the lake and 49 sites in the campground.
If I had to choose his punishment it would be that his body or parts (39 year old male in okay physical shape) be put up for sale. I am thinking like the movie "Coma" here. I don't know how much usable body parts go for now, but I am thinking that since he is a career criminal he needs to make restitution for his crimes. I can't think of a better way to atone for your sins than to pay full restitution and help out another human being at the same time. Back in the Salem, MA witch trial time, you had to pay for your own room and board while you were in jail. Since this predator can't pay his own way in jail or full restitution to his victims, putting his body/parts up for sale to the highest bidder is a win/win for everyone. He chose his life of crime, he needs to pay the price.

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Trailer got broken into. Thief totally destroyed the door.

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