Campsite/Campground Theft

[nomad297]

I read quite often in this forum of people securing anything that weighs less than their RV to deter theft. It is a shame if this needs to be done and I am wondering if theft at campgrounds is as bad as some lead me to believe. I only have a couple of seasons under my belt and I have never been a victim -- I have always left (thief-desirable) things sitting outside, under my awning, sometime for the whole day, without even thinking that somebody at a campground would be so low to steal them. My friend, who has as much/little experience as I do, locks up everything or puts it inside, and I have always thought he is a bit paranoid, but after reading these forums, I'm thinking I have just been lucky.

I have always had the feeling that people at campgrounds are trustworthy and "part of the family" and would never violate another family member. How wrong am I?

Bruce

[wnjj]

4 stories here, all from the 90's and all from the central Oregon coast in state and NF campgrounds.

1) My parent's ice chest disappeared overnight along with a few others in the same campground. They found theirs dumped nearby along with the meat and soft drinks that were in it. Obviously teens looking for booze, finding none there.

2) While tent camping we locked everything up at night except the lantern which we set on the mat just outside the tent door. Woke up to it missing (with 5 college guys inside the tent). Same campground as #1 but different trip.

3) My brother left his ez-up in the bag on the table to save the spot while we drove away for a bit. Our cousin left an axe, lawn chair and car battery in his site. Everything was gone when we came back. The funny thing was the ez-up was beat up and had turned inside out a couple of times before from filling up with rain. It was not much of a prize. Even better was the battery was stone dead and useless.

4) While we were sitting by the fire our neighbors caught someone underneath their ATV trying to steal parts while they were 20' away at their fire! The guy managed to unbolt one end of the tie-rod. They saw him as he ran off when he got spooked and they didn't discover the attempted theft until later.


So yeah, if I care about it or the trip would suffer without it, I lock it up or put it away.

[mlts22]

TOMMY47 wrote:
From the thief's point of view, there is very low risk. IF arrested, they'll be out on bail within a day since this is very petty theft. If it goes to trial, The victim will have to return to the area, sometimes hundreds or thousands of miles away. Victims won't return and case will be dismissed. Only an upside to crooks unless victim catches them in the act and administers justice. Then, the victim is charged with assault.

The only thing a thief has to fear is that if they annoy the owner of a CG or other space enough so that the owner bans the thief from their property. If the person is caught again, they may have the larceny charge dropped, but the trespass charge would stick because it doesn't need the out of town person to witness.

A friend of mine did LP (loss prevention) duty at a now-defunct chain store that did not ban caught shoplifters from their premises, and the same people would come in day after day and strangely enough, inventory would shrink after their visits, but even when caught, the people came right back and just made sure to be more careful. The current store he works at does actively ban shoplifters and turn in video to the police, and their shrinkage rate is a lot less.

[tpi]

In 40 years of camping only one theft. Difficult Campground outside Aspen CO. in the '70s. Food, camp stove, lantern were taken.

I'm somewhat careful about what I leave out-nothing too attractive. When I had trailer I tried to disguise generator or hide it. But camp chairs, lanterns, stoves, and other typical items usually stay out. I camp a lot in southern CA, places like Dana Point, Joshua Tree and Refugio.

[carpetguy2]

Only had two incidents happened.1 Myself and 1 camper next to me..
Had a truck camper back in 90s.Forgot to lock it .Opened it up one morning and found a homless guy in it.Passed out not moving at all yelling and all.Told my wife to call the cops and get my gun .Still nothing Cops came and got his ass out as he was
A junky aswell. Got arrested and yelling saying that was his camper.
Unbelievable experience .Always lock up everything now

First time camper next to me one time was having a fit at the campground staff because he was on a 50amp service And his was 30amp.They offered to rent their adapter for 20.00 deposit only.Still wasn't happy cussing and all.
Needless to say he left his full cooler of beer out and someone took all except 1 lol.
But aholes took other stuff too.including one of my chairs.

So always lock up and put everyting away at night .Just getting horrible out there .

[pnichols]

Well ... there's a vast difference between "one having paranoia" and "what actions one takes resulting from that".

I prefer my own non-physiological definition of "paranoia": Paranoia is the finely tuned habitual use of what-if intelligence, what-if experience, and what-if scanning so as to get and stay ahead of the curve on possible detrimental events.

With this definition, it only makes sense that all of us RV'ers should be "paranoid" when in unknown places or situations. Taking precautions is way less stress, way less work, and way less expensive than picking up the pieces after a detrimental event.

Due to the long-term U.S. economy now facing us, many folks out and about in the camping world are no longer out there by choice. They may not have the inhibitions that our fellow true-campers have.

We take a few non-stressful seconds to lock everything down a bit and put most things away when not around our campsite.

[TOMMY47]

From the thief's point of view, there is very low risk. IF arrested, they'll be out on bail within a day since this is very petty theft. If it goes to trial, The victim will have to return to the area, sometimes hundreds or thousands of miles away. Victims won't return and case will be dismissed. Only an upside to crooks unless victim catches them in the act and administers justice. Then, the victim is charged with assault.

[calamus]

In our 10 years of camping I can not think of anything being stolen, state campgrounds where we are backed up to the lake and we leave our boat beached (I do take the keys out of the boat)Fishing poles and rod holders are left out and have always been there. I guess we have been lucky we will cross the theft bridge when we get hit I guess.

[pitch]

I figure that 99% of thieves are opportunists. Just don't give them the chance.
I really don't understand how any thievery is gotten away with. Seems most private campgrounds we go to are inhabited by nosey old busybodies that watch everything and everybody like hawks. Seems that if I can command an audience of 8 or 10 just to watch me back in and set up it wouldn't be beyond the realm of reality that any strange person will be scrutinized.

[nomad297]

It sure is interesting to see the contrast between the replies on this thread and the replies on the "Thieves at campsite!" thread.

Reading through this thread, one would think that occurances are minimal, but go over to the other thread and one would think the complete opposite. I wonder why this is.

Bruce

[EsoxLucius]

Hmm...cause and effect or coincidence?

[JimM68]

foxes?
I don't lock the mororhome when we walk the dogs.
I'd leave the outside TV outside when we leave, wife won't let me.

I do really believe in karma. I will (and have since I was in my twenties) drive and or walk and or eat anywhere in Chicago that I happen to be. I have never been messed with. If I ever am, I am willing, able, and ready to protect myself, but have never seen the need.

Karma is a good thing.

[mlts22]

msmith1199 wrote:
And there comes the paranoid word! If you lock things up or put them away you must be paranoid!

No such thing as being paranoid. It is just being paranoid enough.

[msmith1199]

NanciL wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:
And there comes the paranoid word! If you lock things up or put them away you must be paranoid!

Who said anything about putting "away things" ?

You must be one of those paranoid ones.
The good news is you'll never have anything stolen !

Jack L

That's what the thread is about, putting things away and securing your stuff! You seem to think that's paranoia.

[NanciL]

msmith1199 wrote:
And there comes the paranoid word! If you lock things up or put them away you must be paranoid!

Who said anything about putting "away things" ?

You must be one of those paranoid ones.
The good news is you'll never have anything stolen !

Jack L