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

[Mlewin51]

So we are starting fulltime in June. Although I'm not overly paranoid I am cognizant of my surroundings. That being said going fulltime or anytime for that matter leaves "doors open" in and around the RV. What has been your experience whether with you or someone you know of things gone missing as in stolen? I'm running through possible items such as expensive surge protectors, bicycles, etc. along with coming up with my own list I'm starting to create plans to protect some stuff.

Cheers!

[cmcdar]

Yes, I have had stuff stolen.

In the past 20 years of camping I have had propane tanks "switched out" and a fishing tackle box stolen.

Thus I chose to have a hardwired surge protector and I lock stuff up.

[rgatijnet1]

It is called situational awareness. There are a lot of places we have stayed where we know there will not be any problem with theft. By the same token, we once stayed at a downtown RV park in Phoenix where they recommended not to venture out of the RV park after dark.
We always lock things up, just like I do at my stick house when we are there. It is just a habit that we have gotten in to and I'm sure that it helps to minimize temptation.

[Mlewin51]

All good things! In terms of RVing it's not necessarily our first rodeo but when we have its been to places we've known and moreover with people we trusted.

[rockhillmanor]

Mlewin51 wrote:
So we are starting fulltime in June.
Although I'm not overly paranoid I am cognizant of my surroundings. That being said going fulltime or anytime for that matter leaves "doors open" in and around the RV. What has been your experience whether with you or someone you know of things gone missing as in stolen? I'm running through possible items such as expensive surge protectors, bicycles, etc. along with coming up with my own list I'm starting to create plans to protect some stuff. Cheers!

First of all when you go full time you will find that within a few weeks of being on the road, you will eventually loose that weekend warrior syndrome of....
"put EVERYTHING out like you are having an RV week-end camping party" every time you pull into a CG. :W

After you settle in Full timing. A lawn chair will most likely be the only thing you put outside your RV. :C

[GPWayne]

Seeing Dennis's post and his sense of humor reminded me of my experience.:B (He replied when I posted about this, years ago.)

I returned to my camp site soon after leaving. (DW forgot the snacks she had set out to take with us) Found two new gas cans with spouts, caps and a little plastic pump hose in my gas inlet. I still have those cans.:) Funny thing, on that F-53 the fill line was about 15 feet forward of the tank inlet. That would take a real long hose to get any gas out that way. It could be a bear to fuel, before I fixed the vent line.

So I guess I'm one up on theft thing.

We lock up things when not in camp....so far so good!:B :B :B

[Executive45]

Non issue for us

[Carlos___Ranae]

Backpacking from the 60's through the 80's and "rough in it" in RV's since. Lost some eggs and a loaf of bread, darn racoons. and yes, a stolen bicycle during bike week in 2012. Use common sence and remove all tempting items from view and you will be ok.

[Old-Biscuit]

I've left things that next camper got the benefit of but never had anything stolen from a camp site.

I engage with 'neighbors' upon arrival and let them know I'll keep an eye out when they aren't around......seems to 'involve' them and then they look out for your stuff.

At least that's my theory why our stuff doesn't get stolen and we leave everything out until time to pack up.

[Dutch_12078]

73 years of camping and RV'ing and the only things we've ever lost were taken by raccoons or bears. And not much of that even. We do lock our doors when leaving the coach for very long, but we don't put all of our outside "stuff" away.

[eDUBz]

Been camping 4 years now with our TH and never lock anything, and havent had anything stolen. I do put things away out of sight sometimes. Whats the saying, locks keep honest people honest.

[pianotuna]

Camping since 1954. Zero items have walked away. I do lock up--but that only deters amateurs. A battery operated cut off wheel makes short work of locks and cables.

I think it is mostly a non issue.

[hanko]

gemert wrote:
I lock everything.

that keeps the honest people out. If they want in, your locked doors don't mean a thing to them. Your most likely to get broke into sitting in a parking lot or restaurant while your MOHo is un attended

[RoadXYZ]

We have out keys on a key rack in the hallway now after hearing of someone having their auto keys taken from a key rack next to the door ... was recovered a mile away by the sheriff ... we are careful, but since learning that some people have a full set of keys for most rv vehicles .. wonder how secure that is ... have put a window lock on the screen so that one has to know to reach in and turn the lock portion around so screen door will open ... just a cheap security for when we are out and about the RV ...

BTW can't remember having anything stolen .... unless it was by the raccoons when left something out accidently ... not a table full, just a fresh peach ...

[Lantley]

CG are for the most part safe. Leave your worries and anxiety back in the city.
There is nothing really valuable in my storage bins. Yes I have chairs Weber Grill and the usual stuff, but I'm not going to spend a lot of time worrying about it.
I take reasonable precaution but where does it end.
I find it funny many of us have cameras rigged up to watch our house when we are on the road. It's hard to be happy and carefree when we are constantly concerned and monitoring our stuff.
It's just stuff, let it go.
I'm not sleeping with one eye open, to protect my stuff cause it can all be replaced. But time spent worrying about your stuff is gone forever!

[Strabo]

Even tho we dry camp as a group in the middle of nowhere, we still lock stuff up. Pismo taught me that, they stole my VP gas jugs.


Tip: If your lucky enough to capture one of the bad guys stealing your stuff, hang him out front of camp, deters others. 😉