Campsite Security Revisited

[Heymon]

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

[CavemanCharlie]

I am in the "Relax and don't worry about it camp" (See what I did there lol) That being said I do put stuff away at night. Or, at least any stuff I care about. And, I take some basic, simple , precautions. I've never had a problems with people bothering me.

If someone steals my 7 dollar folding chair he must have needed it worse then I do.

[tdiller]

drsteve wrote:

Lantley wrote:
For all the watching, observing, monitoring and worry promoted in this thread.
How often is anyone actually attacked,invaded or mauled in a CG......or restaurant ;).
Sometimes we are our own worst enemy, leave those worries and fears at home.
I'm not suggesting it is impossible for something bad to happen or naive enough to believe it never happens.
However I don't believe every trip needs to be surveillance mission where we must constantly look out for the enemy :h
Learn how to relax people:S

A voice of reason! We've been camping 30+ years, and I don't recall anything ever walking away.

I have seen many things in campgrounds/parks over the years. As a kid I saw my father rescue and resuscitate a swimmer. We were camping once at a place in Indiana when all of a sudden there was all kinds of commotion. My father being a EMT went to see if help was needed. Turned out some guy stabbed his wife to death at another campsite. More recently my wife and I stayed at a campground where a bunch of local kids were consuming a bit too much adult beverages and started to play with fireworks. The camp host called the ranger and local authorities and when they showed up the kids went all attitude on them. It happens, maybe not every time you are out but more often than you would think. As for things turning up missing I've never had anything taken but have been in campgrounds where coolers walked off. When I think about it most of these were near town and this was a popular weekend spot for the local young adults. I don't leave things out that I think would be stolen but I will leave things like chairs up against the camper or under it. or fishing gear under the camper as well.

[tdiller]

BarabooBob wrote:
Lantley, I have had a couple of times where having situational awareness has kept me out of trouble. By being aware of what was happening around me, I have stopped people from getting robbed at a mall. I have reported burglaries in progress, and stayed around to assist officers take people into custody. I assisted a police officer that was outnumbered by the bad guys, by the way, this is a normal situation for a police officer.
Almost every active duty or retired officer has done this. You are never really off duty or totally retire. You are just out of uniform.
My wife has been with me for over 35 years. If I "go on alert" she looks for escape routes. She will be the woman helping to get people to safety in the event things go to ****. She would not be the useless person sitting there crying and waiting for someone to rescue her. If needed , she can and will grab a firearm to protect herself and others.
This is life for all people in the armed services, police officers, firefighters, and first responders of all kinds. We are not being paranoid, we are being realistic. **** happens.

My wife is learning. Even more so now that my son is out of the military as well. Whenever she is with either of us she now starts to point out things that may be worth keeping an eye on. A few years back we were in a mall when the power went out. My wife wanted to stay until the power came back on and continue to shop. I steered her to the nearest exit. This is a mall where the FBI arrested some guy who threatened to blow it up near Rockford Il. My son is not comfortable in crowds but is getting better. We went to the auto show once and I could see he was getting nervous in the crowds so we would move to another display that was less populated. He also used to drive down the middle of the road but has gotten better about that too.

[Heymon]

It’s fascinating to see the evolution of this thread. So many layers to what seemed to be a simple situation at first glance.

First, I am not (and I don’t think anyone else here is) “promoting worry”. There is a real world out there, whether you choose to be aware of it or not. In my case, I was in blissful camping ignorance for 5 years before my bubble was burst. Sure, I’d heard of generators and bikes etc. being stolen, but I didn’t really think too much about it other than (usually) locking my bikes at night. Then, I had a battery powered lantern and a 1 lb. propane canister pilfered, and I know by what type of person: A low-level homeless bum with no worries about the consequences of petty theft. That made me reconsider my mindset a little bit.

Since I would not abandon forever camping at a favorite campground if my bikes were stolen there, I also refuse to fold to homeless bums taking cheap stuff from me. There are countermeasures available and if taken they can keep your camping worry free. I employed all available countermeasures in more of an experiment than anything. The result of the experiment was that the cheapest and easiest countermeasure, which is not having attractive items available to steal, turned out to be the most effective. It was also helpful that the campground made an effort to keep the bums out with improved fencing.

Going forward, I will put stuff away and thus have little to worry about. This is the opposite of “promoting worry”. It is simply being aware. Just like the law enforcement officers in this thread, they are trained to be aware (because the consequences in that job are dire if you are not aware) and this is not a “feature” that can be turned off or on. Once you are aware, you are aware, and you take reasonable protocols in your activities to minimize getting in trouble.

So now I am more aware while camping. That is a comfort because I know what I am dealing with and what works to thwart the risk. Ignorance of risk is a comfort too--you can’t worry about what you don’t know about--but it is a false comfort that leads to a greater likelihood of being a victim at some point, whether out camping or at home or shopping. Curious if most of you calling me a worrywart lock your doors? If so, why?

Andre

PS I find other campers to be entirely friendly as well, and kids making new friends for a couple of days is a great learning experience. I can’t get over how much I enjoy the whole camping thing, it is hard to explain to non-campers.

[DarkSkySeeker]

Quite often, I have found the reverse of what we're talking about here to be true.

If you walk over to an adjacent campsite, you will find very open and positive people.

Once or twice I have asked my neighbor to keep an eye out. Once my neighbor gave me a flashlight when she noticed I has without one while backing my trailer in.

Just thought I'd bring up the other side of the coin.

[Lantley]

BarabooBob wrote:
Lantley, I have had a couple of times where having situational awareness has kept me out of trouble. By being aware of what was happening around me, I have stopped people from getting robbed at a mall. I have reported burglaries in progress, and stayed around to assist officers take people into custody. I assisted a police officer that was outnumbered by the bad guys, by the way, this is a normal situation for a police officer.
Almost every active duty or retired officer has done this. You are never really off duty or totally retire. You are just out of uniform.
My wife has been with me for over 35 years. If I "go on alert" she looks for escape routes. She will be the woman helping to get people to safety in the event things go to ****. She would not be the useless person sitting there crying and waiting for someone to rescue her. If needed , she can and will grab a firearm to protect herself and others.
This is life for all people in the armed services, police officers, firefighters, and first responders of all kinds. We are not being paranoid, we are being realistic. **** happens.

Deciding to be on duty at all times is your choice.
The job is not requiring you to be on duty or conduct surveillance,
that is your personal decision. If you enjoy living that way, I see no problems with it
I prefer to be off duty while camping. I have actually been involved in a few arrest and managed to subdue a shoplifter or 2 in my retail days. I have also witnessed and assisted at a couple of major accidents.
I am self employed,I put in long days and I am always on the clock.
However, I know how to put work away and relax. I have lots of equipment and valuables on jobs sites and in trucks all over town.
I have it insured, and after a few losses/claims I have come to realize it's just stuff. I don't need to watch it or worry about it 24/7.
The reality for me is I can't possibly be everywhere or watch everything. I also cannot worry about the next bad guy who may cross my path.
If/when life circumstances put me in harms way, I am capable of dealing with it. But I know worrying or being constantly on alert is not how I want to live.
With that in mind I work hard, take precautions as necessary, and relax/recharge when I can.
I have also learned that it takes all types to make this world spin. We have brave 1st responders always on the ready. We have tradesman that keep things working and running through all conditions. We have teachers to nurture and educate are youth.
In today's wide open gig economy we see people with unique talents all the time.
What we don't have is useless people,while it may not always be obvious everyone has a talent.
Yes we have rescuers and those that need to be rescued. But in the big scheme of life the roles can easily be reversed. Sometimes you are the rescuer and sometimes you are the rescuee. But I do not believe there is ever a time that I would consider someone in need worthless:?

[_1nobby]

Where I do most of my camping, I have to put most things away.

Security reasons.

From the bears and raccoons.

Any noise I've been woken up from was the wind, waves on the shoreline or raccoons / bears sniffing around the picnic table. :):)

[BadgerMcAdams]

Lantley wrote:
For all the watching, observing, monitoring and worry promoted in this thread.
How often is anyone actually attacked,invaded or mauled in a CG......or restaurant ;). SNIPPED

The last time I went camping, I was standing by the fire and turned around to a skunk walking around my kitchen area looking for tidbits that had fallen...I slooowly back around to the other side of the fire and called out to the wife to tell her we had a guest and that she might want to stay inside. Pepe LePew sniffed around for a few minutes, then meandered off down towards the lake.

30 minutes later, I went up to the campsite bathroom and as I come around the corner, there is another one...It was walking the other direction, so I waited and it too headed off to parts unknown.

While not attacked...Definitely Invaded for a bit...but all ended well. Guess it is their home too, we are just the visitors.

[drsteve]

Lantley wrote:
For all the watching, observing, monitoring and worry promoted in this thread.
How often is anyone actually attacked,invaded or mauled in a CG......or restaurant ;).
Sometimes we are our own worst enemy, leave those worries and fears at home.
I'm not suggesting it is impossible for something bad to happen or naive enough to believe it never happens.
However I don't believe every trip needs to be surveillance mission where we must constantly look out for the enemy :h
Learn how to relax people:S

A voice of reason! We've been camping 30+ years, and I don't recall anything ever walking away.

[wanderingbob]

you guys make it tough for an honest thief to make a living , I guess that I will have to go in to politics .

[BarabooBob]

Lantley, I have had a couple of times where having situational awareness has kept me out of trouble. By being aware of what was happening around me, I have stopped people from getting robbed at a mall. I have reported burglaries in progress, and stayed around to assist officers take people into custody. I assisted a police officer that was outnumbered by the bad guys, by the way, this is a normal situation for a police officer.
Almost every active duty or retired officer has done this. You are never really off duty or totally retire. You are just out of uniform.
My wife has been with me for over 35 years. If I "go on alert" she looks for escape routes. She will be the woman helping to get people to safety in the event things go to ****. She would not be the useless person sitting there crying and waiting for someone to rescue her. If needed , she can and will grab a firearm to protect herself and others.
This is life for all people in the armed services, police officers, firefighters, and first responders of all kinds. We are not being paranoid, we are being realistic. **** happens.

[IdaD]

I had a generator and chainsaw stolen from my campsite a couple of years ago. I was camping alone with my oldest daughter so really I'm just thankful I didn't hear it happening in the middle of the night and do something stupid without thinking it through. Going forward I'm better about chaining up items of value or I put important stuff back in the camper. If somebody wants to steal some camp chairs, an ax, lantern, etc. so be it - I'm not going to pack up everything every time we leave or go to bed.

I do also have at least a pistol with a couple of extra mags with me in the camper just in case. Sometimes a rifle too. I'm not going to confront anybody but I'm going to be prepared to protect my family if need-be.

[tdiller]

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.

[austinjenna]

I usually put stuff away at night, honestly I dont have much out anyway- chairs is about it and 2 folding tables that I throw under the fiver and I rollup my awning for night and go to bed.