Message Forums

Just a quickie,
How do you guys (n gals) get on with general security when camping? I'm still a complete noob at this and still trying to find out the basics really. If you off load things like camping cookers, clothes - I've even seen people with T'V's in a tent. When you go out for the day - what happens? it all get left in the tent?

It isn't like there's a lock or anything that a good Stanley knife wont get through on these things so paranoia would start to creep in.

Is there an insurance premium that campers can take out to cover your gear?

Sorry for the silly questions, but it's been bugging me for a bit and I thought I would ask the collective :)

Cheers

Wayne.

(ps - I just posted this in the trailer tents forum by mistake - so sorry for the confusion!)

Been camping for as long as I can remember, man and boy, and security has never been an issue.

Have just recently bought a new trailer tho' and it is lockable, with hitchlock and wheel clamp. (Although 10 secs with an angle grinder could sort it out)

The owners of the smaller farm type sites tend to have a sixth sense about who is around their land anyway, as good as a guard dog.

Just stay away from the "lager lout " sites and you'll be OK.

As far as night time security goes, I camp with 2 dogs, so bring on the bad guys!!!!! 

Hiya Wayne

We are quite new to this camping lark too and as we were slightly concerned about security in our tent (My mum was more so than myself - I put it down to old age). We have found that we have never had, or even heard of others having any problems, so much so that last year at Callow Top in Ashhbourne (Which is a really big busy site) my mum left a her handbag in the loo's with all our money for the whole week inside within an hour of arriving and some little angel handed it straight in at reception, the next day my mum also left her brand new digital camera on the grass outside the pub (not sure if that was due to intoxication or old age again ) and someone walked round the whole site for 2 days looking for the people that matched the pics on camera and gave it us back!

Within the tent we did hide stuff in obscure places but then soon discovered that it took too long to remember where everything was! We now stick any valuable things in a big omega storage crate that we take and padlock the top. Obviously you can pick the box up and walk off with it but chances are anyone breaking in would just grab and run, not drag a huge box around with them!

Also we have found that within about 45 seconds of arriving at our pitch we have introduced ourselves to the all those in the vacinity so chances are at least 1 person from another party will be around at all times and would spot a stranger up to no good especially around cookers etc!

Wow, didnt mean to go on that much but hope it sets your mind at rest!

I put any valuables in the car.  Things like stove, clothes etc. I leave in the tent.

Never had a problem.

We leave everything in our tent apart from the obvious high value personal items such as camera's,phones,cash. etc.. - we've been camping for several years now and have never had anthing taken from our tent, or indeed anything left outside such as tables, the cadac or kids toys, we have at times left our bikes chained together inside the tent - You need to have a certain amount of trust in the people around you and the site you are staying on - I think most campers are like-minded people - honest & respectful of other peoples belongings.  Sites tend to be quite busy and so this would probably deter any would-be thieves!.  I have never heard of any campsite thefts of tents or equipment,  I have however heard of peoples caravans being towed away - which I guess is somewhat easier/quicker than removing someones tent!,

As for insurance I spoke to my house insurers earlier this year to check our cover, they advised me that they do not cover camping equipment when away from home as it is considered high risk due to not locked/secured, it is only covered for theft whilst at our property , away from home cover would need to be arranged with a specialist insurer but guess it would be at a premium probably with a high excess, which would likely be more than the replacement cost of many items.....so just be careful with what you leave in view, secure your tent when you leave for the day and try not to worry too much about it - the chances are it may never happen.

We have only been camping twice so far, we have left all of our equipment in the tent and just put valuables in the car.

On the site we just used at the weekend, people didn't even bother to close their tent to go to the toilets or wash dishes even though these tents where not in site.  The site was small and everyone had said hello to each other, other people would always been around so it felt really safe.