As you know, I run a charter fishing boat on Magnetic is, QLD. I leave the big boat on a mooring and go to and fro in a small dinghy .I had two trips on today , so I left the dinghy on the beach, during the day-two idiot backpackers stole it, so when I went to go out to my boat,it was missing. I found then paddling in back from a little bay about 1 klm away, and gave them a few nice words that can,t be repeated online. Called the coppers who gave me the run around and did nothing. I tell you , if I had a gun, I would have thought about using it!They said "we didn,t think you would mind!".reply unprintable. Do these foriegn theives do the same in their own countrys- I think not.Just makes my blood boil.Bill

Don't blame you for being made Bill - most backpackers are a law unto themselves, as we all know - when we were at O'Neill's Creek in Tassy, a young couple decided to climb Mt Roland (with took Yeoeleven 9 hours - and he was exhausted), they left after lunch, with two small bottles of water (straight from a tap which clearly states to BOIL before using), skimpy clothing and shoes, and a very small backpack.

They weren't back at dark, got in around 9.30pm, apparently, as a group we had thought if they weren't there in the morning we would call the authorities, one of the other campers gave them a good talking to when he heard them come back. Irresponsible behaviour.

Okay to enjoy themselves, but the authorities would not have been happy to have to come and rescue them, I am sure.

Even if the cops had given them a stern lecture, it would have been something.

Don't blame you for being cranky rainman.

If there's one thing I've learned by reading comments on these forums for the past month or two it's don't leave stuff lying around. I've always associated camping and travelers with honesty but I've quickly learned otherwise. Anyway, Bill, at least you got to exercise your larynx hehe.

Yes, I made the paint peel off the little dighy, and the 2 people I had out fishing with me wince a little.I rang the coppers, and was told to ring 3 different numbers, and then told the local fuzz weren,t on duty!Gives you a great respect for the law...........Bill

So you reckon they should just take what they like, and get off scott free. In my day , taking other peoples stuff was STEALING.I had to go to work and my conveyance was gone. I am sure you would like it when they joyride in your car........and get away with it. Bill

I would have hooked a bow line on and towed them 10 km out, undone the tow line and set off a bit as they rowed back ashore and i am sure if you kept a good burley trail going Bill they would be encouraged to row quickly. see no harm in that lesson
cheers
blaze

hako wrote:

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I know I'm going to be unpopular, but think of it another way - 2 young blokes...beautiful sunny day and they're feeling great walking on this golden beach on Maggie Island...there's a dinghy on the beach complete with oars....let's borrow it - no one seems to be using it and it probably won't be missed....now lets return it.

Think back to when you were this age - no one else ever acted on the spur of the moment?

No way do I condone this sort of thing, but really, no loss was incurred...inconvenience yes...and if I were in Bill's shoes I'd be hopping mad too....but it ain't a hanging crime.

Stealing is Stealing, today its a dinghy tomorow a car and who knows after that. I think  the polce should come down harder on these people. Glad you gave them an ear roasting Bill.

     Landy

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These people know they are untouchable ..due to them not being in our beautiful country for very long and the back log in our court system,We hear it all the time from them when we are in the camp kitchen some times.When we were in Carnarvan WA last year..their was a public awearness campaign in the local paper to all locals explaining the theft rate went up while the back packers were in town for the fruit picking season.They even have to put security on duty at local s/ market while they are there.The c/ van parks do not like them staying in their c/ parks as they recon if to many staying it drives the grey nomads away.

With referance to another thread on here! bring back the good old days when the cops could give you a good clip on the ear anad not get charged fir it!OH we didnt have backpackers back then!

Maybe it wasnt the pain of the clip but it taught you to respect the coppers and the laws they were there to enforce. These days they have to be babysitters and polictically correct at all times.

Yes I did get a couple of thick ears in my youth!

HI Bill

If you just happened to be going about 40 miles off shore you could have towed them behind you whilst you were out there. Leave them in the boat as you did your daily tour and you could have perhaps given your paying guests an extra long trip just for luck and then perhaps the weather might have turned bad and then they could have had the excitement of riding all the way back hanging on like hell.

The other option is to tell them your plans and give them the option to either take the trip or swim back from where you found them.

I remember when I was fishing (Prawns) there was a distress call to look for some DH scientist that went out when they should have stayed home. One of my mates found them sitting on a navigation buoy in the middle of Spencer Gulf and took them on board.

They were that grateful they INSISTED that they be immediately return to the port of their choice about 3 hours steam away when the boat was fishing. They were told to sit down and shut up and also help on the sorting table or they would be returned to the buoy. Take their pick.

Sea rescue sent a boat out the next day to get them and then the prawn boat skipper put salvage rights on their upturned shark cat. HEHE.

I to used a dinghy and people don't realise that even though it is a small craft it is as much a part of your business as the big boat.

We regularly got calls to look for DH's who did not return from their day out fishing. Because of the hassles if you reported their position etc we all turned to another channel for our conversations. Most should have never been in a boat. Many are the stories of people getting lost going the wrong way, having no spare battery, not enough fuel, going to sleep after emptying the esky.

We would loose a nights fishing (we were heavily regulated in times and dates we could fish) and waste a lot of fuel just because someone didn't know what they should do before heading out to sea.

Regards
Brian

It is the same situation in NZ, some backpackers are disgusting, especially with their toiletting habits, none of them seem to carry a spade and don't want to take too many steps into the bush for their you know what-- it gives responsible campers a bad name as we all get tarred with the same brush.

A few years back some backpackers were arrested up north in a campervan, it was full of stuff including reticulation, spare tyres etc.

They had been knocking off stuff from campers and the fittings etc at caravan parks during their travels.

They had been going to town markets during their travels selling the stuff to fund their trip around Oz.

Eventually they were caught.  

Bill, how would the backpackers found out your name and email address?

Probably a stupid question now I think about it. You would be advertsing your business somewhere and the details would be on there.