How Safe are Your Valuables?

If you drive into any caravan park or camping area in the country, you're likely to see everything from fishing rods to fridges, and even the odd laptop computer, left laying around.

So, do Australians just leave their commonsense behind when they pack up for their holidays or is the threat posed by thieves so tiny that it's not worth worrying about?

The executive officer of the Victorian Caravan Parks Association, Peter Corish, fears the threat of theft is growing. "There is this saying out there that once you leave the big cities of the east behind, you can just leave your things out in the open and no-one will ever invade your camp," Peter says. "That is still true for the most part but sadly it is certainly less true than it was 10 years ago."

The National Parks and Wildlife Service also warns that people camping in remote locations have to take sensible security precautions, as there have been incidents. As the grey nomads travel for longer periods, they inevitably bring with them a lot more creature comforts. Hi-tech fridges, digital cameras, mobile phones, DVD players and laptop computers are standard accessories for many. This can make them a target for more sophisticated thieves as well as opportunists.

The traditional caravan park security measures may be considered to be the introduction of boom gates, issuing guests with keys or security codes to enable access to common facilities, and even barbed wire fencing around the park. Some are now actually employing security guards.

We are lucky that Australia is such a wonderfully safe and honest country but it's probably best to lock up, anyway …just to be on the safe side!

Security tips

• Don't' leave your caravan or motorhome unlocked.
• Protect credit cards, cheque books and phones.
• Mark your valuables with driver's licence number.
  
• Don't hide valuables upon arrival - thieves could be monitoring the park
• Don't leave loose change visible in your car.
• Always be in a position to record registration and car details when required
• Take your mobile phone when out walking.
• Don't leave items like fishing rods out in the open.
• If you see any suspicious behaviour, phone the police.

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