Grey nomads and other travellers are constantly being warned to be more security conscious … and there’s a reason.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that thefts from caravan parks have been on the rise. However, few are as brazen – or as expensive – as the one which reportedly took place in Esperance in Western Australia on the weekend.
A Melbourne couple told police that an estimated $9,000 worth of goods were stolen as they slept in their van parked at the Esperance Seafront Caravan Park.
Louise Storey said she and her husband had watched a movie before going to bed.
“My husband got up and went to the toilet about half past one and woke up again at about five o’clock and all of our things out of our caravan had been taken,” she told the Esperance Express. “There is CCTV footage from the office here, but it’s quite a fair way from where we are, and they can see someone come to the van at sort of 2:30 in the morning.”
Ms Storey told the newspaper that the items stolen included her handbag, her wallet, her husband’s wallet, her wedding ring, her engagement ring, her husband’s wedding ring, her laptop, their iPads and phones.
However, the couple insisted they would still have positive memories of their trip to southern WA and of visits to places like Esperance, Cape le Grand, Ravensthorpe and Hopetoun.
Ms Storey said they were totally determined not to let the incident ruin their travels … despite some serious short-term challenges.
“We were planning on going to Loose Goose for tea because everyone told us that was great but we ended up not being able to do that because we didn’t have any money,” she said. “We ended up having hot dogs for tea that night … but they were nice hot dogs!”
Esperance Police has confirmed to the Esperance Express that they are investigating the incident and that certain items have been retrieved and seized for forensic analysis.
• Comment below
How was entry gained – via an unlocked door???
Never ever go to bed and leave your door unlocked, it’s asking for trouble
We have always been concious about security at any time of the day,
We also have heard of thieves stealing generators,I would suggest that you make sure you lock everything up, you don’t know who is lerking around
Two German shepherds will fix it.
My two dogs sleep in the Van with us , they are pretty sharp to anything going on
We always lock our door at night and anything outside is either chained to the caravan or put away out of site & we leave a security light on outside all night. Dont tempt the thieves, we all need to take some responsibility.
Had similar thing happen to us and others at a PtAugusta Caravan Park a few years back. Thieves didnt take much from us but others list cash etc. Reported to Police but never heard any more about whether anyone was apprehendrd
We have purchased a battery operated alarm system that makes an incredibly loud chime when the door is opened. We switch it on at night time, and off during the day. Something like this: https://www.bunnings.com.au/swann-magnetic-door-and-window-security-alarm-2-pack_p4210751
Hope it helps someone!
Great idea, Joel. Thanks for the tip…I’m off to the big green shed down the road!
Cannot work out how someon slept through this. The caravan door or window would have made a noise and when you walk in a caravan there is always a bit of movement felt on the floor when someone walks on the floor. Wondering if their belongings left outside the caravan or in their car?
That’s what i was thinking Toni!
YesToni i totally agreed with you until last night, we had 3 young male indigenous youths enter our caravan at the Big 4 van park at Alice Springs whilst we were sleeping, the door lock was playing up, but i thought we’d somehow be aware if someone tried to enter the van whilst we were sleeping, for the same reasons that you mentioned…….WRONG!!! i would have slept through the whole thing and we would have lost wallet& purse, car keys, phones, etc. Thank Christ my wife is a light sleeper and called out my name, and the thiives took off out of our van. I grabbed my waddy stick and went outside to investigate. I saw them standing inside our neighbors caravan shining flashlights, and rummaging through a ladies handbag and other apparel which they had dragged outside of the van. I gave chase with waddy in hand, the three youths took off like jackrabbits pinto the night. Luckily for both us and the neighbors nothing appeared to have been stolen. The night security watchman & the police attended, and both said it was a regular occurrence. We have since fixed our door lock, and we were strongly warned by the staff upon entering the park, to be especially vigilant about locking valuables up, and locking van doors especially at night
Unfortunately u have to be vidulant or aware when u r out & About. These scammers are breeding everywhere & it will get worse.
Add Whayalla park as well, install a sensor light outside, above the door.
it also pays to have a dog travel with you the dog will make asound he or she will alert you of some one a round you.
Had similar happening in Bourke recently. CCTV showed they entered caravan during the night. Lost several items and all our cash. Oh, and we had a small dog sleeping in the van (don’t rely on the dog for security)
Small dogs aren’t really dogs Fred
We were at ballina in a park and had our wako raided, took food an alcohol. Tried to take wako but was to heavey, we now have a chain locking everything. Not good but needs necessary
.but what annoyed us was the park new it was going on regulatory but the did not wan us.
yes park owners wont warn u as people wont stay there , we hav it in our park also but we try and warn people , they take fridges ,bikes,fishing gear and those weber b.b.q.s anythink they can sell for drugs !!!!we r in a place where the cashless cards coming in then it will be worse !!!!!
We have always had a chain around our Engel fridge so the lid cannot be opened and the chain goes through the gap in the wheel hub,when it is under the awning.in 5 yrs the only things we have had stolen was 2 of my denim shorts and they were taken off our own clothesline through the day.
There is scum bags everywhere….I always make sure I lockdown before retiring but do worry some maggots will steel the outdoor gear…webber etc etc..
2 hunting dogs as security i wld love them to try enter mine they be in 4 a surprises 2 actually. i had someone try rib me till 1 of my dogs bounded out they ran faster than rd runner
A red heeler sleeps either under the left side of the van (chain long enough to go out to the right side) or on a mat inside at the door
This is why we travel with our Border Collie. Best guard dog ever
It also pays to have a little bell above the door, so it tinkles every time the door is open.
My son had his surfboard stolen from his pack rack at Esperance a few years ago. It was locked and then the lock was cut. It’s probably locals methinks.
We take our Blue Heeler with us. No need to lock the door when she’s inside our caravan, she’d give the low-life thieves a nasty shock. She has eyes like a hawk and misses nothing.
Yesterday near us at a broken hill caravan park while the owners were in shower block someone sliced open the canvas on a windsor rapid with a knife of some kind & helped themselves to whatever they wanted.
According to someone working there it’s fairly common place. Daytime or nighttime doesn’t worry them. They know there’s little consequences so they wonder in the front gate with a front like Myers.
Yes I know the park you’re talking about people a couple of vans away from us the same thing happened to them, but of course nothing happens know one gets court
Sounds to me like someone drank to much trust no one buy a Rhodesian Ridgeback and a staffy best alarm in the world safe Travels
Have heard of this very style of theft happening in houses while people slept. Best advice, put everything valuable under lock and key, like a strong box securely bolted to the chassis through the floor. Do the same with all outdoors gear. And most important of all, be observant during the day(even sit outside at night), chances are that anyone who does the kind of theft described, already knows their target hours(maybe days), before hand. The worst part, I see so many nomads who rarely venture outside and even less who spend time outside enjoying their surroundings, by day or by night. So these thieves remain unnoticed. Get outside, enjoy the nature that surrounds. At night, sit by a fire or better, quietly observe the stars as they drift overhead. As the latter is done in the dark, your eyes become dark adapted, can see many things! Either way, by day or by night, being out and about might catch the buggers in the act, or deter them
We free camp….no worries….Track trailer and Landcruiser you can hide easily…….caravan parks are horrible!
We have been lucky so far but will be looking in to a few things our dogs are the best alarms . Never leave unlocked
Be vigilant by not leaving valuables in sight and not leaving door’s unlocked. Make hidden safes, install a cheap alarm and get yourselves some caravan wheel locks. Whilst dogs are an excellent deterrent, you cannot travel into a national Park with one. Please don’t ‘sneak’ your dog’s into Nat parks. Our eco system is fragile.
neighbours were robbed in deloraine van park tassie a few years ago from their nnexe
Carry a shotgun..that’ll sort the thieving asseoles out.
eskys were being stolen from a caravan park we were at…so we just so happened to have several empty beer stubbies that we filled with “:pathology samples” and some flat beer and put caps back on…and left them in an old cheap esky…yep, the esky got flogged and we found two empty stubbies on the beach the next day…mmm…tasty
Well, we had to dispose of our “pathology ” samples somewhere didnt we?
🙂 🙂 🙂
I have a Swann remote heat movement sensor, the sensor will not go off with the wind moving things around, body heat and movement will set it off. The receiver has 2 volume settings. I use it at home but will start taking it with me caravaning.
Friday@saturday nightsare a problem /especially when you have a beach front come through the property take what they want @gone like the wind
I put a senser light out at knight but freinds came in late beside us and got quite verbale about it, obviously some people are like our government and suport theives.
Hi All,
Looking to take over a caravan park in SA and looking to focus on tpThe Gray Nomads and wondering what everyone’s top 5 things are when looking to pick a suitable park to visit/ stay at. Thanks and looking forward to all your suggestions