Camper Security & Safety

[Frankp]

I'm not worried about the people who occupy the campgrounds, it's the ones who come in looking for whatever trouble they can find. It doesn't hurt to be prepared for whatever problem may arise. Most campers carry tools and equipment for all emergencies, self defense is just another.
For those that fear others who carry protection legally, keep in mind that those people have gone through training, and FBI background checks. The ones you should fear are the ones who carry illegally.

[A2SuperCrew]

In more years than I can count of tent camping, and now beginning our second year of PUP camping, We've never had a problem.  Campers just seem to look out for each other.  

We just use common sense when we leave for long periods of time, and put stuff away.  Bikes go under the bunk ends.  All the kayak gear goes in the boats, and the cockpits are covered.  Sometimes locked, but usualy not.  Depends on the camp ground.  

I agree that more clowns seem to be camping on the big holiday weekends, so we're more alert then.  We've seen our fair share of loud drunks, but the Rangers usually settle them down pretty quickly.  My favorite was a guy last year cutting firewood with his chain saw at 11PM!  He had lit his site with a pair of 500 watt halogen work lights, drawing every bug from 100 miles around!  A drunk with a chain saw, now THAT was scary!

Happy Spring!

[pershingd]

Having grown up in a neighborhood that scared me to death, there's only one thing I trust to keep me and my family safe when we are camping - intuition.

If I pull into a campground/site that makes me uncomfortable, then I pull out and find another. That being said, it is not that often that I have to do that. I'm sure that I've misjudged the surroundings and left some places that were perfectly safe, but I also haven't had any negative experiences either. I spend more time worrying about my camper when I leave it and the truck in a parking lot while the family and I are traveling than I ever do when its in a campground.

If you can't relax long enough to enjoy yourself, what's the point of going?

Have fun!
David

[mjdfarm]

Keep in mind when you are deciding what form of protection to bring there is no id required to  check into most campgrounds.  Most campgrounds are gated so law enforcement does not generally check them unless specifically asked to.  I can tell you as a veteran law enforcement officer wanted criminals know this and frequently stay in campgrounds.  As a detective we have located numerous fugitives in campgrounds-some that we stay in regularly.  In addition sexual predators see campgrounds as a buffet with all the unsupervised children running around.  The fact that you have "never had a problem" does not mean you won't.  Trust me it only takes one problem to affect you for life.  

With this knowledge I camp regularly (twice a month) with my family.  I do bring protection but I am not paranoid.  I just look at life with the knowledge of what "nice people" are capable of.  Use common sense when in contact with people you don't know.  Most people are good honest people but the best criminals are experts at gaining your confidence.....

I have never had anything stolen from our camper or site and we regularly leave for hours hiking, canoeing etc.  I really am more concerned with my families personal safety than the things we bring.  I don't take anything that can't be replaced or I don't want to lose.

and by the way I can tell you from personal experience mace/ pepper spray just aggravates a determined attacker....

[Hunt4Fun]

Keep in mind when you are deciding what form of protection to bring there is no id required to  check into most campgrounds.  Most campgrounds are gated so law enforcement does not generally check them unless specifically asked to.  I can tell you as a veteran law enforcement officer wanted criminals know this and frequently stay in campgrounds.  As a detective we have located numerous fugitives in campgrounds-some that we stay in regularly.  In addition sexual predators see campgrounds as a buffet with all the unsupervised children running around.  The fact that you have "never had a problem" does not mean you won't.  Trust me it only takes one problem to affect you for life.  

With this knowledge I camp regularly (twice a month) with my family.  I do bring protection but I am not paranoid.  I just look at life with the knowledge of what "nice people" are capable of.  Use common sense when in contact with people you don't know.  Most people are good honest people but the best criminals are experts at gaining your confidence.....

I have never had anything stolen from our camper or site and we regularly leave for hours hiking, canoeing etc.  I really am more concerned with my families personal safety than the things we bring.  I don't take anything that can't be replaced or I don't want to lose.

and by the way I can tell you from personal experience mace/ pepper spray just aggravates a determined attacker....

Good points!

Jeremy, your comment "Do us all a favor and leave the weapons at home for the weekend."  Sorry.  Not me.  Protection is always with me.  But understand, I'm different in that if I'm camping, I'm hunting.  But even for a weekend of scouting, I always have a handgun close by.  But that has something to do with how comfortable you are with any form of protection.  Some folks feel safer with a cell phone, others a handgun.  And by now it's obvious that everything in between works for somebody.

Be friendly to all, and trust no one to start.

Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.  

[mjdfarm]

Good points!

Jeremy, your comment "Do us all a favor and leave the weapons at home for the weekend."  Sorry.  Not me.  Protection is always with me.  But understand, I'm different in that if I'm camping, I'm hunting.  But even for a weekend of scouting, I always have a handgun close by.  But that has something to do with how comfortable you are with any form of protection.  Some folks feel safer with a cell phone, others a handgun.  And by now it's obvious that everything in between works for somebody.

Be friendly to all, and trust no one to start.

Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.  

Amen!!!

[gtxsuz]

We camp usually two times a year.  We are NASCAR fans.  and yes we both carry protection.  Our house has been broken into while no one was home and all they took was a big jar of money,(replaceable) my viedo camera, (which took us two months to notice), and lastly my registered 38 special.  That's what brought the law to our house. It's a felony.  We both have conceled carry permits.  No need to draw unless you are physically in danger.  

The sad part about this is homeowners insurance won't replace cash.  The camera was a gift 2 Christmas's before.  and the reciept for my 38 was for the amount of our deductable.  So we lost all around.  That is what sucks about life sometimes.

just my two cents worth.

everyone where we camp for the races are always looking out.  this spring some people reported "cooler raids".  but usually everyone is great to be around no problems for us.  so we keep "stuff" locked up outa site outa mind.

[LACamper]

I've got to agree with the gun owners on this one. I've never had an encounter in a campground other than the occasional noisy drunk and one very loud enamorous couple. I did have a box of donuts stolen off the picnic table by a wild group of squirrels though. We found it later in the top of a nearby tree (damned litterbugs!). They were up all night partying on a sugar high!
While thoughts of fighting off bears in the wild is entertaining, feral dogs are more of a problem. I do know someone that was bitten by a wild dog while leading a boyscout troop in SE Louisiana. Since the dog couldn't be found after biting her she had to suffer through the rabies injections. No fun...
I have had two incidents on the way to/from a campground where I was glad to have a firearm along (and no, I didn't shoot them). Also, while backpacking on Black Creek Trail in MS we ran into a couple of juvenile escapees asking if we had seen any cops and could we give them a ride somewhere. They eventually went one way, we the other. Three miles later we set up camp. That was a nervous night in a tent, weapon or no weapon. Two legged critters are probably your biggest concern. I've got to add that I really like the over cleaner idea! That is some nasty stuff!
It comes down to this: campgrounds are very safe, probably safer than camping on your front lawn. There are more law enforcement officers there per capita than at home. The further you get from society, the less likely it is that the police will be there to protect you, the more you have to take care of yourself. On the other hand, from a criminal point of view, prowling 10 miles from the nearest road is not going to garner you a wide selection of victims. You are much less likely to run into problems there, but you're probably on your own if something does happen. Cell signals are intermitten. Response times are measured in hours at best.
Also, keep in mind that I mainly camp in rural Mississippi or Louisiana. You are expected to be a little more self-reliant than say, on the Appalacian Trail. Things may be different where you are.
As they say, actual results may vary...

[ColemanCampingFamily]

Thanks for lightening the conversation, LACamper. I had to LOL at the squirrel story! I always feel safe camping whether or not my husband brings his firearm or not. For us, it totally depends on where we are camping. As for the oven cleaner, I am definitely getting an extra can to keep in the PUP!! I can honestly say that in all my years of camping, I can't recall any time in which we have been burglarized or terrorized. Campers just seem to keep an eye out for each other.

------------------

DW - 69
DH - 67
DS - 00

1985 Coleman Aspen, AKA "Patches"

[LACamper]

You're quite welcome. The story of the loud enamarous couple is even better but this is a family website so I won't post it... but I will say the look on their faces when the rangers pulled the tent open (to the cheers of 20 other campers) was priceless!

LACamper
1998 Coleman Redwood

[TexasCamper]

info for the state of Texas
http://www.packing.org/state/documents/texas_phpYS16Bw_texas_parks_letter.gif

[dcampbell1969]

Only incident has been a stolen bike.  Have had loud, drunken neighbors a few times that made me a little cautious.  But nothing that made me fear for the safety of my family.  I tend to keep close track of the 2 little ones (7&8).
I respect that people have there own views on safetly and what they need, but I feel that I can protect my family when camping without bullets.  Heck, I've got axes, hammers, items needed to make a small flamethrower, chemicals and hopefully some good ole nosy neighbors that'll pick up the slack if I need the help.

[gijoecam]

Been lurking for a while, but I wanted to chime in here....

I regularly camp and hunt in northern lower Michigan.  This one particular day I was sitting on a log in a clearing on some state land hunting deer out behind my friend's hunting property.  It was early evening on a warm November day.  We began hearing coyotes snarling, barking and what sounded like fighting just over a low ridge to our south (more of a mound really) about 150 ft. away.  About 10 minutes later, we saw a coyote enter the clearing directly opposite our position.  Had there not been two of us, I don't know if either of us would have seen the other two come over the rise to the south while we were fixated on the one to the east.  When the lone dog to the east began advancing on us, ears back and head down, my friend and I both decided this was a flanking maneuver.  Unfortunately we had to put two of them down before the third retreated into the distance.

I'll never camp in the woods without protection at hand.  It's not other campers I'm worried about, it's the wildlife.  Racoons, squirrels, chipmunks, even porcuipines are A-OK in my book.  But when wild dogs roam, you can be sure I'll be ready for them.

As for dealing with unruly fellow campers, I don't.  That's the job of the campground security/DNR/officers, not me.  Should I be confronted, there are plenty of other ways to diffuse the situation.  I've only seen the oven cleaner trick used once on an unruly raccoon.  It worked quite well!!

[mercc350]

I just bought my camper and have never camped in a popup.  I have a question about security at campsites.

What do people typically carry for personal protection in a popup since it's virtually a tent on wheels?  Pepper spray, tazer, firearm?  

Have any of you ever had any problems in a public campground such as a state park?  

Hopefully this will never be a problem but I like to be prepared.  


Any information will be helpful
Thanks

Hopefully you will find a place to take your pop up and camp with your family where you don't need to feel like you have to pack a gun unless it is to either plink or hunt. I usually always take a rifle or two for those purposes only. Be very careful taking a gun with you on a camping trip for protection chances are if you shoot someone out camping you will lose bigtime.

[Ribs1]

The only think that I keep for protection is a baseball bat.  The few times in my life I have had a problem with other people, it was usually just a drunk, unruly homeless person, or some other type of nucklehead.  Brandishing a baseball bat will usually scare those types away.