Is it Safe Out There?
Many of those new to the RV lifestyle are concerned about safety. They read about crimes and wonder--how subject to the criminal element are folks in RVs? If you sit around the campfire, sooner or later there's some sort of RV "crime story" bound to come up--but if you push your source for specifics, it often seems things seem to get vague. Yes, we have heard of actual incidents where travelers have run into trouble--but in reality, it's a very RARE situation.RVs are pretty hard to break into, compared to the common home. After all, in the dark of night, a big old house presents a lot of places to sneak in. Your little old RV is so small if somebody breaks a window, it's sure to wake you up. Burglars don't want to let you know they're coming.
Too, robberies most often involve planning: The neighborhood mini-mart. The bank. The liquor store. Somebody's home known to have valuables or lots of dough. By our transient nature, as RVers, we're a whole lot harder work into a well planned robbery effort. That, and for some reason, a prevailing view of RVers is that we all carry sawed off shotguns around, begging for chance to "make my day."
We'll leave the thought of toting a weapon up to you, but there are a few tips that can make your RV experience more secure. First, use common sense. Don't open your door to anyone (particularly at night) who you don't know. Don't park your rig in neighborhoods infested with "tagging" graffiti. Keep your doors locked. Leave the hitchhiker for somebody else to pick up. If you do stay overnight in a "rest area," use your own bathroom at night, rather than presenting yourself as an easy mark as you wander up to the public one.
We all have a "sixth sense" about danger. We've had experiences on the road where we just felt that, "Something isn't right here..." and we heeded it: We picked up and moved on. After years of roving about in our RV, we can honestly say that's only happened less than a handful to times, and we've never had any real trouble out there.
Labels: fear, safety, security locks
5 Comments:
We carry Bear Spray with us, learned of it a couple of years ago in Yellowstone Nat'l Park, very effective and much stronger than people spray (pepper), can actually blind if hit in eyes so be cautious handling. Charles Davis, crd@rvfinancing.com
By Charles Davis, at September 29, 2007 7:57 AM
May seem funny, but I don't know how to not answer the door. I was the only camper in winter, but was in a cg with some permanent party trailers in the back. My husband stayed home this trip. A knock at the door at 10PM took me by surprise. My first thought was to not answer, but knew it was clear I was home with the TV on, small dog barking. In isolation, there was no detriment to someone to break in if they wanted in badly enough. So I raised the door blind, putting myself in clear view. It turned out to be a harmless situation, my caller was an elderly woman needing help to set up. She would have been in a fix if I hadn't opened.
By M&M, at September 29, 2007 8:21 AM
If you watch the news, it doesn't take rocket science to figure out that it is a "deadly" world out there whether you are RVing or Not.
If you don't have a good risk management program in force on a continual basis, you are someone who will probably become a statistic. Also the viewpoint that the only worry is a sadistic, poor, drugged up perpetrator breaking into your RV is very myopic. A bigger concern might be environmental issues and catastrophic weather events. How about the chances you are taking by not knowing just how much you have overloaded your RV. Try a left front blowout at 55 mph on a two lane highway during rush hour.
Is your weather radio (which I am sure is equipped with S.A.M.E.) going to wake you before the 3 AM tornado goes over your parking spot? Does your campsite have multiple routes out so that you can away from the forest fire that is raging over the next hill at midnight? If it starts raining a three day, 30" rain can you get out or will you be drowned?
The preceding things can happen and seem to occur more and more depending on location or circumstances. There are a lot of other dangerous situations out there if you think about it.
A good risk managment program will at least have you thinking about the various risks you may encounter and may give you time to prepare for some of them if they happen.
Think about it, and be careful out there........
By Jon, at September 29, 2007 1:17 PM
Jon makes a valid point: mother nature might be more hazardous than fellow man. However, nature does not smile at us while planning to cheat or rob us.
I often pickup hitchhikers provided they are older and carrying some sort of luggage; have met many interesting fellow travelers that way.
We all have instincts that alert us when someone approaches us with questions or requests that seem out of place or contrived. Just like predator animals, desparados recognize fear and go for that target when on the prowl. So if you find all strangers to be frightening, perhaps you should consider trading your R V for a time-share condo in a 55+ community. As for me, I will continue to be kind to strangers that I meet on the road but wary of those who seem too interested in who I am, where I am going and what I am carrying with me.
vBreezo
By vBreezo, at September 29, 2007 6:15 PM
Russ, I appreciate your comments. My husband and I full-timed for ten years, usually boondocking, and NEVER had one uncomfortable incident. We also never encountered anyone in our travels who had something happen to them--only to the mythical "others." When I give seminars to newcomers, the question always arises. I'm delighted to have your experience confirm mine.
Alice Zyetz
RV Traveling Tales
By Alice, at October 2, 2007 1:40 AM
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