Dr Bob's 13-point
Prescription for Security and Safety
3 April 2015 Dr Bob, already
a prolific contributor to this website (this will be his seventeenth article), sends
the following prescription from Sri Lanka, en route to Australia. Very experienced
travellers, Dr Bob and Sandra keep a cottage and a McLouis motorhome in Spain
and a Land Rover Discovery and caravan in Australia. They also have some great
ideas on how to deal with intruders.
He writes:
So, let's see what we can add, having had a
successful and quite destructive break-in to our McLouis Glen 690 at the
Cartagena Fiesta in 2005, and two more attempted break-ins (Portugal and Italy)
in 2011 and 2014 respectively.
1. Wherever possible park where there is good
lighting. Never skulk in a dark corner car park when overhead street and
security lighting may be available.
2. Park in a manner that allows the maximum
visibility to passers-by who may note nefarious happenings.
3. Always park ready for an immediate departure.
Motorhomes are much better than caravans in this regard.
4. Chain your cab doors together. We use a chain
and padlock but have dispensed with the screens to the side windows, so that
criminals can actually look in and see that the doors cannot be opened, even if
they force the lock. This is from two such experiences where the would-be
thieves thought the flashing LED cab alarm was fake. It woke us but not until
the lock/s had been screw-drivered. So we now let them see that the doors are
chained.
5. Cab Alarm.
6. Gas Alarm - and test frequently.
7. External lock to caravan door (as opposed to cab
doors).
8. If staying in an area for some time, then change
free-pitches every other day if possible.
9. Stay on service areas on toll motorways if
possible, and near the fuel station or where you can be observed from same.
Worth the disruption.
10. Try not to park on motorways within 50 km of a
national border: for example between Spain and France, where we were warned off
by the French Police who informed us of cross-border gangs. They also advised
us to drive as far as possible from the border and then get off the motorway; a
bit difficult if you are looking for free-camping after dark as we all know.
11. Ensure you have the appropriate Police
Telephone Number (112 throughout Europe)
logged into your phone memory and each night confirm your location for
information purposes. If you have Google Translate then you can simply write
down what to say and your location, with a GPS location from your SatNav if
possible.
12. On-board additions: we carry a variety of (legal) heavy blunt objects that can be
part of your repair kit and camping equipment, eg axe and hammer. We also
acquired a pepper spray in Greece, although a squirt bottle of bleach or
ammonia will do just as well, as will hairspray (and a lighter!). Have thought
of a replica handgun but can see the obvious disadvantages. We recall in Spain
having an attempted break-in at the cottage while we were in bed. The police
were there in five minutes and later gave us our GPS co-ordinates and what to
say on the phone if we were bothered again. Our neighbours with all sincerity
asked if we had shot the criminals? Alas, the would-be thieves had jammed the
front door with their crowbar. Spain is a far simpler country where a man's
home remains his castle.
13. Have adequate insurance cover!
I'm sure there are other points, but that's it for
now.
Best Wishes,
Bob & Sandra
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