Thefts from caravan parks in Dubbo

GrouchyGrandma · Member

Thefts from caravan parks in Dubbo

aussie_paul · Guru

GrouchyGrandma wrote:
My neighbours have arrived home, just 3 days into their 11 week holiday, after having a handbag stolen from their caravan, whilst on an overnight stay in a Dubbo Caravan Park. The thief slashed the fly wire and grabbed the bag whilst the owners were a short distance away in the camp kitchen, watching the news. They had left one window open 1/2 an inch! The theft was reported to the office and to the police, who informed them that this was not unusual, due to the low socio-economic situation of the area, and patrons at both caravan parks are often targeted. The purse had $150 cash (a lot for a pensioner), licence, bank card, pension/seniors cards, etc, etc.
This has really rattled them both, but they will head off again once the replacement cards have all arrived...their message is to make sure no valuables are left in view, windows are ALL locked and keep an eye out for your neighbour where you can.

disbelief furious furious furious furious furious furious

Aussie Paul. smile

skins · Senior Member

It would be nice if the CP operators mentioned to newbies arriving to be extra mindful of their possessions whilst staying at their park. I recon by slashing the side awning it shows that the low-life scumbag thieves are experienced at doing this sort of thing.

Desert Dweller · Guru

There are many towns with the same problem, drugs most likely. RVers are an easy target.

A friend had their car broken into right outside the Visitor Information Center in Bourke recently.

-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Thursday 31st of May 2018 09:09:17 AM

Bill B · Guru

skins wrote:

It would be nice if the CP operators mentioned to newbies arriving to be extra mindful of their possessions whilst staying at their park. I recon by slashing the side awning it shows that the low-life scumbag thieves are experienced at doing this sort of thing.

Can remember stopping at a CP in Dubbo approx 10 years ago and it had signs everywhere about keeping your car/van etc locked.

mezza56 · Senior Member

We stopped over in Dubbo Discovery Park two years ago as we had a problem with the gas reg and couldn't use the ho****er on gas , they have notices in regard to keeping vans and cars locked , we didn't get touched up , but discussing it with someone else they said that they never locked their door while they were in their van , a thief in Dubbo entered their van while they were sleeping and stole his wallet and watch off the bench , they didn't even wake up. We always keep the van door locked at night when we go to bed

outlaw40 · Guru

Not only dubbo .hervey bays 3 council run beachfront parks are notoriously famous for thefts.

brickies · Guru

Lesson to all close alll windows and doors when you leave your van have always followed that rule when leaving to go tto shower has well .

the rocket · Guru

Hello grouchygrandmar, think is an interesting post. As we live full time in our van i would appreciateit if u could elaborate a bit. If the window was only open half an inch, did they break the window to open it further so they could climb in. We, at times, leave window open half an inch but the hinge i would have thought would not open further. Thanks.

Kebbin · Guru

Rocket no matter how far open it would be enough to get purchase and force it to get an arm in to grab whatever.

brickies · Guru

Roof vent is a way of letting air into the van with less risk.

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

The main, most important, thing to remember is to NEVER leave anything of value in view from outside the van.

These people are opportunistic and do not waste their time forcing a window, screen or door unless they can see what is on offer.

As others have said, even if just wandering over to the loo or shower, if no-one is going to be in or very near the van, make sure nothing of value is in sight ... AND lock the door.

Unfortunately, most insurance companies only honour their policies if there is 'sign of forced entry' - and a police report.

The sad thing is that these opportunistic low life operate in cities as well as van parks ... so the same rules always apply whether travelling or at home.

Of course, it is also wise to never leave valuable items visible in the vehicle either - they will not go to the trouble, and time, breaking in if they can't see a quick reward.

Cheers - John

-- Edited by rockylizard on Thursday 31st of May 2018 01:52:22 PM

blaze · Guru

funny how everbodiy talks about the lowlifes in cv being a real problem, it might surprise you of the cost to caravan aprks with the theft from the toilet/shower blocks or the camp kitchen. Even seen one older chap go into a toilet block with his electric drill and come out with the handwipe towel rolled on the end, or coming out with the spare dunny rolls.
cheers
blaze

brickies · Guru

Your right Blaze they are also within our ranks .

Desert Dweller · Guru

Yep plenty of theft occurring involving the older brigade.

We struck a happy hour group bragging about how many dunny rolls they'd knocked off.

We also sprung an oldie filling up his soap container from the pump hand soap in a CP.

Luckily for the rest of us these DH's are part of a small minority.

Then again, it does make the rest off us look pretty ordinary. hmm hmm

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Cameras ? We have cameras everywhere. Dash cameras used for security can be purchased for under $100 . Yes does not stop low life thieves.. Even clocks with under cover cameras on eBay etc . Must say not an issue free camping .. YET !

Stretch60 · Senior Member

Something not mentioned is installing a small safe in the van, similar to the ones in hotel rooms. Any caravan park near large country town will be a target. As a former catcher of these scumbags I guess I am more tuned into security. During holiday season in Albany, the parks get hit quite hard. Last Christmas season dozens of bikes were stolen. Just need to be more vigilant.

Cupie · Guru

I have several 'secret spots' in my van where I place valuables when not in use. I have had my daughter & SIL try (unsuccessfully) to find them, just to see how secret they are.

Also have a security chain on my door & a 'rod' that I place across it that will fall off & make a noise if someone tries to interfere with the chain. Also helps to secure the door too. I disabled the van inside door lock many years ago because of the common problem of people locking themselves out. Maybe not an issue with current generation of locks.

Many years ago there was the story going the rounds of the locals sitting up in the trees in the CP at Port Augusta waiting for the old farts to wander off to the toilet in the middle of the night leaving the door unlocked. They could then enter to pinch stuff with only the missus to worry about. Not sure how true the story was.

rockylizard · Guru

Stretch60 wrote:
Something not mentioned is installing a small safe in the van, similar to the ones in hotel rooms. Any caravan park near large country town will be a target. As a former catcher of these scumbags I guess I am more tuned into security. During holiday season in Albany, the parks get hit quite hard. Last Christmas season dozens of bikes were stolen. Just need to be more vigilant.

Gday...

Very good advice Stretch for those valuables that one carries and only use infrequently - but I doubt people would keep wallets/phones/laptops/purses/handbags in the safe all the time ... and would not decide to put it all in the safe just before walking to the loo.

The best protection to these types of theft is to NEVER leave these items in view when not in the van, no matter how short a time one thinks one will be away - even if locking the doors and windows.

These thieves are opportunistic, they look into the van, or vehicle, and if there is something they see as value - ie they can convert into cash easily - they will strike.

They will not break a window/screen/door etc 'just in case' ... they want to be in and out quick with something they can flog.

Cheers - John

TheMonties · Member

There are on the market some good and cheap PIR (passive infra red) motion sensors with built in sirens that are battery operated which you could place in youre van and even an annex to scare off would be thiefs while you are away.

Jaycar has one example for sale, it even has a remote to switch it on and off, I will put a link to it at the bottom of the post.

Being battery operated is a plus too, as these could be easily rigged to run from youre house battery instead of having to continually purchase replacement AA or 9v cells.

www.jaycar.com.au/motion-activated-alarm-with-remote-control/p/LA5217

PeterInSa · Guru

Re Jaycar PIR, above
Have one in our Boat when on the trailer connected to our Tug, use it when Overnighting in CP or Freedom Camp. Have a Storm cover on the boat so if anyone undo's the zip and climbs in to steal Fishfinder, CB etc the alarm will go off. Use the remote to switch on/off. Worth the money.

Peter

Mike Harding · Guru

PIRs are great... except....

They do not like moving air currents so if you're camped in a cold climate with most of the windows and doors closed the PIR will work well however if it's warm and the windows are open the PIR may trigger on air changes which is annoying at 3am. The sensitivity of individual devices varies and there is no simple way to tell how any particular unit will perform other than to try it. Also, fans or air conditioning may make them unusable.

Long Weekend · Guru

We stayed in the Dubbo Council caravan park twice. On the second occasion somebody smashed the driver's window of a 4WD parked directly across from us during the night and stole a bag which they said contained all of their money.

The strange part about it is than nobody, including us, heard anything during the night! Also, the 4WD's window was tinted, so how the thief was able to see inside the car in the dark is a mystery - perhaps they could smell the money.

As it happened, our car was not locked, so whether they opened it and didn't see anything worth taking is a moot point.

Murray

landy · Guru

Cupie wrote:

>Also have a security chain on my door & a 'rod' that I place across it that will fall off & make a noise if someone tries to interfere with the chain. Also helps to secure the door too.

We have a security chain on our door as well. At bedtime after putting the chain on the door I clip a small fishing bell to the chain, the type you can clip to the top of the rod. anybody trying to open the door causes the bell to ring.
Landy

Desert Dweller · Guru

Which just proves that you're a lot more secure bush camping by yourselves out of sight of passing traffic of coarse.

mikecatts · Member

Hi all...

Not good to hear. I dont seem to have a problem.. LOL..

I have 2 remote door guards..... Run on food and love..

the rocket · Guru

Hope grouchygrandma joins in her post And hopefully answer my question.

brickies · Guru

That often happens Rocket

Bill B · Guru

the rocket wrote:

Hello grouchygrandmar, think is an interesting post. As we live full time in our van i would appreciateit if u could elaborate a bit. If the window was only open half an inch, did they break the window to open it further so they could climb in. We, at times, leave window open half an inch but the hinge i would have thought would not open further. Thanks.

I would suggest that the handbag was left in plain sight near a window and the low life forced the window open enough to reach in and grab it.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

It doesn't matter where you go, there are always some low life persons around who feel what you have should be given to them for free!

The Qld government is currently supporting them too - the coppers catch most of the crooks (& they can be sweet little kids, aged from 8 years upwards) but the judges let them out on bail for them to reoffend. Our detention centres are too full to jail them all!

So Grey Nomads heading north for the warmth, BE CAREFUL! LOCK EVERYTHING WITH A KEY (including the locks)! Don't rely on the "snick" catch.

We were in Coonabarabran a few nights ago - our neighbours were from Victoria & had gone out site seeing that day, only to return to their car & find a couple of needy souls wanted their driving lights. They had removed the lock nuts bit were disturbed so this couple can still see the road at night!