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 ...
Forum Discussion
OleManOleCan wrote:BarabooBob wrote:
I am also a retired law enforcement officer, Everyone will tell you that they expect certain behavior from me. Never sit with my back to the door of a restaurant, now what is going on in the entire room, know who is behind me, I always have my head moving to see what is going on. I even have a spot that I always sit in in church to see everyone that comes and goes. We have 5 current or retired officers in church,
Camping is just an extension of the rest of my life. I do a drive around before setting up. If something were to look bad, I would leave. Have I ever left? Not yet. I put anything of value away before leaving or going to bed. As a retire officer, I have my LEOSA (Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act) concealed carry permit. This permit allows me to carry in every state with few restrictions. Unless I am going to Canada, I am protecting myself and others. I know that there are liabilities to this mentality. Unless you have been in the shoes of an officer, you don't know what it does to us in the long term.
BTDT... 31 years on the job before I retired the first time.
I went back 10 more years heading Security officers at City Hall and City Court locations. Retired again...
I know what you mean about watching people. My wife and I were eating in an Outback and I was scanning the dining room. I saw a guy watching me. He watched everyone coming and going too. We left when they did. I talked with him in the parking lot. He looked like a old LEO. He had been on NOPD in Louisiana for 28 years.
When we camp we leave our site buttoned up anytime we are away from my camper.
It's too easy for small items to walk away.
Sounds like a lot of military folks I know too. I can often pick out veterans in a group of people too. Like LEOs we have our idiosyncrasies which the general public doesn't notice but we notice them in each other. Many of the same things you mentioned that LEOs do. Constantly looking at our surroundings. Being aware of all possible exits. Noticing who comes and goes. My wife calls it people watching but it's a bit more than that.
