Campsite Security Revisited
Some of you may remember a thread I started a few months ago, wherein I sought to make my campsite a little more secure against theft. This was at Mojave Narrows in Victorville, CA. Here is a link in case you want to review it:
https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/29738373.cfm
The upshot of that thread was twofold: First, several people made some good suggestions about being more secure, but to me it seemed most people just said to flee and never go back there (and even questioned why I went there in the first place). I was surprised and dismayed by that. Anyway, since I refused to capitulate to a bunch of homeless bums, I promised to post my results after my return visit. Here is my experience:
This past MLK weekend my son and I returned to Mojave Narrows for our 4th trip to watch trains, fish, and explore. We camped in the same space as last year, when some transients stole a lantern and a 1 lb. propane canister. Our response to this transgression was multi-pronged: The main thing we did was to put any attractive items away at night. I left 3 chairs and a table outside, along with my dog’s bowls. The dog stayed home but maybe someone seeing the bowls would think he was nearby. My son had a multitude of construction type toys that he also left out assuming there was no such thing as transient child-bums.
We also got a driveway motion detector from Harbor Freight as recommended in the prior thread. We tested its range and sensitivity and set it up facing the most useful direction, and so passing cars would not set it off. I got a camera (a Wyze cube for $20) which I set up in a window. I have a true unlimited data plan on my cell, so the camera was routed through it with a constant feed, just like a home surveillance system. I had the amber porch light on so the camera could at least see shapes at night. It has night vision but the infrared reflected off the window it was facing out of so I disabled it.
I got a wireless remote for our awning light globes, and our newest acquisition--a 600W equivalent LED floodlight that we proudly named “Night Victory 5000”. This was a blinding floodlight that could not be looked at directly, and we figured turning this on would turn away just about anyone. I was also "armed" with pepper spray.
The first night we were ready for action, almost hoping someone would come along and validate our security measures. Nothing happened until about 3 AM when the motion detector went off, but just one chirp. I checked the camera and no movement, but just to be sure (and also because it was giddily delightful) I activated the power of Night Victory 5000. Nothing. No animals or anything. So after that excitement, it took some time to drift back to sleep. As soon as I nodded off at about 4 AM, the motion sounded again, but this time with 2 solid chirps! I went straight to Night Victory 5000 this time, and again nothing, although the camera was tracking an incoming freight train (and the transients supposedly use train noise to cover their actions) so I looked to make sure. Hmmm. Starting to think false alarm. Also starting to feel like that “Chasing Bigfoot” show. I left the motion sensor on, and at 5 AM another solid double chirp. I turned on the awning lights in addition to Night Victory 5000. Nothing again. To verify, I peeked outside at my tow vehicle and saw zilch. In looking around, I realized that our campsite was so sparse that transients and other passersby would have felt sorry for us. I turned off the motion detector and left it off the rest of the trip.
The second night was more relaxing. Had steak for dinner and turned in relatively early because it was getting cold. I set up my camera in a slightly better spot to be able to see what was going on outside, but for the most part the night was uneventful except for the occasional blast from Night Victory 5000 just for the smiles.
The third and final night was awesome. First, my in-laws came to visit (and spent the night) and we watched the lunar eclipse, with the high clouds clearing in plenty of time for the grand finale of the Super Wolf Blood Moon (I prefer the adjectives in that order). We couldn’t watch it around a campfire as planned because the wind picked up to a stiff breeze, sending embers sideways and forcing me to withdraw the awning and its globular lights of ambience. I did get some decent photos of the eclipse, but even with the tripod the wind shook the camera enough to blur a substantial number of them. I went to bed with none of the security items in effect. At about 4 AM the wind picked up to heavy 50 mph gusts that shook the trailer and I realized that our collapsible trash can was still out there (I hoped). I peeked and saw that, though it was full, it had shifted positions and was jammed against the steps, and I knew that if I didn’t secure it I would be the scourge of the campground, and everyone would know the in-laws brought KFC for dinner. When I went outside into the cold wind, the brightness of the moon was unbelievable! It looked like those old Westerns where they filmed in daylight but put a dark filter on the shot to make it seem dark. You could see everything (and you could tell there were no transients around). I am somewhat jaded, but that was a memorable moment. My only regret was that I didn’t wake everyone up to see how bright it was, but they looked so comfy snoozing on the jacknife couch slide…
Bottom line is that none of my security measures was necessary, but it was kind of fun setting it all up and testing it. All I really had to do was put “stealable” stuff away. So I am back to normal in terms of camping comfort. No transients and no feeling of insecurity. The County of San Bernardino has improved the perimeter fence and even the bathrooms were nice, according to my father-in-law. I am glad that I did not fold to the petty thieves, as I would have missed another great trip to this spot. I hope some of you that in my opinion were too quick to quit take some of my experience into consideration when some sort adversity visits you at your favorite campground. I know it is a judgment call for each person, but I would not be too quick to let go of something that is highly enjoyable.
Cheers!
Andre
https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/29738373.cfm
The upshot of that thread was twofold: First, several people made some good suggestions about being more secure, but to me it seemed most people just said to flee and never go back there (and even questioned why I went there in the first place). I was surprised and dismayed by that. Anyway, since I refused to capitulate to a bunch of homeless bums, I promised to post my results after my return visit. Here is my experience:
This past MLK weekend my son and I returned to Mojave Narrows for our 4th trip to watch trains, fish, and explore. We camped in the same space as last year, when some transients stole a lantern and a 1 lb. propane canister. Our response to this transgression was multi-pronged: The main thing we did was to put any attractive items away at night. I left 3 chairs and a table outside, along with my dog’s bowls. The dog stayed home but maybe someone seeing the bowls would think he was nearby. My son had a multitude of construction type toys that he also left out assuming there was no such thing as transient child-bums.
We also got a driveway motion detector from Harbor Freight as recommended in the prior thread. We tested its range and sensitivity and set it up facing the most useful direction, and so passing cars would not set it off. I got a camera (a Wyze cube for $20) which I set up in a window. I have a true unlimited data plan on my cell, so the camera was routed through it with a constant feed, just like a home surveillance system. I had the amber porch light on so the camera could at least see shapes at night. It has night vision but the infrared reflected off the window it was facing out of so I disabled it.
I got a wireless remote for our awning light globes, and our newest acquisition--a 600W equivalent LED floodlight that we proudly named “Night Victory 5000”. This was a blinding floodlight that could not be looked at directly, and we figured turning this on would turn away just about anyone. I was also "armed" with pepper spray.
The first night we were ready for action, almost hoping someone would come along and validate our security measures. Nothing happened until about 3 AM when the motion detector went off, but just one chirp. I checked the camera and no movement, but just to be sure (and also because it was giddily delightful) I activated the power of Night Victory 5000. Nothing. No animals or anything. So after that excitement, it took some time to drift back to sleep. As soon as I nodded off at about 4 AM, the motion sounded again, but this time with 2 solid chirps! I went straight to Night Victory 5000 this time, and again nothing, although the camera was tracking an incoming freight train (and the transients supposedly use train noise to cover their actions) so I looked to make sure. Hmmm. Starting to think false alarm. Also starting to feel like that “Chasing Bigfoot” show. I left the motion sensor on, and at 5 AM another solid double chirp. I turned on the awning lights in addition to Night Victory 5000. Nothing again. To verify, I peeked outside at my tow vehicle and saw zilch. In looking around, I realized that our campsite was so sparse that transients and other passersby would have felt sorry for us. I turned off the motion detector and left it off the rest of the trip.
The second night was more relaxing. Had steak for dinner and turned in relatively early because it was getting cold. I set up my camera in a slightly better spot to be able to see what was going on outside, but for the most part the night was uneventful except for the occasional blast from Night Victory 5000 just for the smiles.
The third and final night was awesome. First, my in-laws came to visit (and spent the night) and we watched the lunar eclipse, with the high clouds clearing in plenty of time for the grand finale of the Super Wolf Blood Moon (I prefer the adjectives in that order). We couldn’t watch it around a campfire as planned because the wind picked up to a stiff breeze, sending embers sideways and forcing me to withdraw the awning and its globular lights of ambience. I did get some decent photos of the eclipse, but even with the tripod the wind shook the camera enough to blur a substantial number of them. I went to bed with none of the security items in effect. At about 4 AM the wind picked up to heavy 50 mph gusts that shook the trailer and I realized that our collapsible trash can was still out there (I hoped). I peeked and saw that, though it was full, it had shifted positions and was jammed against the steps, and I knew that if I didn’t secure it I would be the scourge of the campground, and everyone would know the in-laws brought KFC for dinner. When I went outside into the cold wind, the brightness of the moon was unbelievable! It looked like those old Westerns where they filmed in daylight but put a dark filter on the shot to make it seem dark. You could see everything (and you could tell there were no transients around). I am somewhat jaded, but that was a memorable moment. My only regret was that I didn’t wake everyone up to see how bright it was, but they looked so comfy snoozing on the jacknife couch slide…
Bottom line is that none of my security measures was necessary, but it was kind of fun setting it all up and testing it. All I really had to do was put “stealable” stuff away. So I am back to normal in terms of camping comfort. No transients and no feeling of insecurity. The County of San Bernardino has improved the perimeter fence and even the bathrooms were nice, according to my father-in-law. I am glad that I did not fold to the petty thieves, as I would have missed another great trip to this spot. I hope some of you that in my opinion were too quick to quit take some of my experience into consideration when some sort adversity visits you at your favorite campground. I know it is a judgment call for each person, but I would not be too quick to let go of something that is highly enjoyable.
Cheers!
Andre
