Pop-up Robbery - Kings Dominion Campground

[sewserious]

I'm glad to hear they think they know who did this to you and your family and that it won't let it ruin your love of camping.

Do you know what kind of camper was broken into the night before?  The reason I ask, noting what camper you have from the other board), I wonder if they looked for the biggest, newest, 'most expensive' looking rigs, kinda like robbing in a 'nicer' neighborhood?

[campdaddy]

that they have a suspect. Hopefully you'll be able to recover some of your property.  Recovering a sense of security might take longer. I'm also glad to hear that this incident hasn't spoiled your enthusiasm for camping. It goes without saying that as far as camping goes this is an anomaly. It

[CC777]

While I agree with not leaving valuables in the camper I don't agree that anything was left in "plain sight."  

And no,  the campground may not be responsible but it only serves their interest to at least feign  a bit of compassion for the victimized party.  I certainly wouldn't have announced that "Hey!  You've come in second place in the "How Easy is it To Rob People in Our Campground" category!"  I really don't think they want to get the reputation that people come to stay and get ripped off at their place.

That being said I wouldn't be surprised if maybe one of the younger staff members had friends who decided to get curious knowing that most people took off for the park during the day.

I am encouraged that so many folks showed you compassion and good will.  Just having people try to sympathize with our pain is healing in of itself.

I hope they nail that kid and make him pay off his debt to you.



CC

[dademt]

When we were away camping last year we got a call that water was pouring into our house and the ceilings were coming down.  Here, the roofer never covered the roof for the whole week we were away and the broke into the house to try to replace the one before we got home.  Total damaged exceeded $140,000 of which the insurance covered less then half.  Came to find out he lied on his insurance application so his insurance didn't cover the difference after mine was done.  Then find out that even though he was licenced and there was nothing in the better business bureau, he was also in bankruptcy.  But while the finacial hit is hard, the peace of mind about your sleeping area be it a house or camper, takes a long time to replace.  
 
Hang in there however as things will get better.  Especially when camping, in many cases I trust those people more then many people in my own developement.

[Russinator]

I'd say that 99.9% of the people you run into at campgrounds are good people. However, it only one who's not so good to do the things that we don't like done to us.

Over the years I've had many things taken from my campsite [surfboards, wetsuits, tools, car stereo, etc]. We used to surf an area just north of Gaviota State Park in California [where we camped]. To get to the surf spots you had to have a boat because all the spots are on private property. Several times, after surfing all day, we'd get back to the campsite and find the camper broken into and things missing. Talk about being POed.

One night I was sleeping in the camper with my family. There were 2 guys sleeping in the boat, which was on it's trailer and parked right next to our camper. In the morning we got up, ready for another fun filled day surfing. That didn't happen, during the night someone took the boat battery and all of our wetsuits, which were hanging over the side of the boat drying out. My friends were very heavy sleepers [me too].

Russ

[austinado16]

That's surfing at "The Ranch" isn't it?  I've heard lots of stories like that where the "body guards" of the hollywood stars who own all that land will come down and do all sorts of stuff in order to keep surfers from coming back.

I've been pretty lucky theft-wise, although about 2 months ago, some jacka$$ stole one tail light off a vintage car I had on a car trailer in front of the house, and then about 2 weeks ago, someone stole the car cover off my '66 Mercedes that's sitting in the driveway.  That really pissed me off.

My big theft story happened in Long Beach while my brother, his gf, my wife, and my then 3 year old daughter were attending a car show at a hotel by the sailboat harbor.  We were both showing our cars.  I'd driven mine with my wife and daughter on board, he'd trailered his on a borrowed car trailer, behind his super nice '89 Chevy Blazer......you can see where this is headed, I'm sure.

Blazer was parked in the hotel lot, about 50yds from the show area and us with our cars.  About 45min prior, we had gone out to it to get the ice chest.  All of my gear (our suitcase, Kate's child seat, etc.) were stored in the Blazer, along with all my brother's gear, including the keys to the tongue lock on the borrowed car trailer.

Well, there we were, looking at an empty parking space and wondering why a 6,000 truck wasn't sitting in it.  The CHP wouldn't respond, and we couldn't even get through to anyone via 9-1-1.  Auto theft in LA is just SOP, I'm sure.

We had to run up to Sears to buy a new $100 child seat and we used my car to hold all 5 of us to drive the 4hrs home, where we grabbed his other fullsize truck and a set of cutting torches, and drove back down to Long Beach, cut the lock off the front of that borrowed trailer, loaded his show car, and then trailed it home.

The Blazer was found in Compton 3 days later.  There was nothing left except for the frame with the shell of the cab sitting on it and the transmission. Every single piece of that truck had been removed, even the carpet and dash.  A trail of transmission fluid led police up the street to a house where they found some of our stuff and parts to the truck, but the black occupants of the "residence" (read: crack den) denied knowing anything about anything and were let go.

[PattieAM]

So sorry to hear of your loss and the violation.  I've yet to have an issue with my PUP being broken into, but then again - I haul 'junk'.  Might keep $8.00 in change in my PUP for laundry or kids games.  

A few years back two self inflating camp pads were stollen out of my Durango in my driveway - freaked me out as I'd just bought them at Sam's Club that same day.  No recovery of course.

Just 2 years ago someone smashed my outside light fixture, smashed my Stanley door double pane entry as well as my storm door - they did get inside,
but evidently thought twice as our two pit-bulldogs were present.

[Mike Up]

Even if the camper would had been a TT, a simple long shaft screw driver or small pry bar would also open their door. Actually probably a bit easier and less noticable than cutting the tarp (which they didn't need to do) and reaching in to unlock the door.
 
The only valuables I leave in teh camper are the appliances, stereo, TV, microwave, and toaster oven. I keep my cell phone and money on me. If I bring my notebook PC, it goes in the car.
 
Also remember that all campers are keyed similar, so no matter if it's a TT or PUP, your neighbor most likely can open your door. I know both my Starcraft and Rockwood used 701 keys that my dealer had handfuls freely available.
 
I do have a satellite dish kit for the camper but I'd likely put the dish receiver in the car if we were going to be gone for long or hide it in a cabinet.
 
I actually have more outside.  I have my lighters, laterns, grill, stove, fishing poles, tackle boxes and thermoelectric cooler. My inside thing pale in comparision to the value of the outside things. I do try to put them under a table, under the camper, or somewhere that it would make it hard for someone walking past to just grab.
 
I guess if I were tent camping, I'd be in a similar situation so I don't worry. I just try to be smart and make a thief work at stealing my stuff. That way he'll be tired so I can pummel the crap out of him.
 
Have a good one.

[ldgregory]

Sorry to hear about that. I know the feeling very well though. I stopped into a grocery store for 15 mins one night and when I came out, my new truck was gone. Not just broken into, but gone. Took an hour for the cops to arrive, they took a statement, and while I was sitting in the cop car three more reports of stolen trucks came in from just down the road at Walmart.

The insurance company was great (even though there was a requisite one month waiting period just in case it was recovered), and they paid off almost the entire thing. The remainder was paid by the gap coverage we purchased at the dealer. If anyone is buying a vehicle, even used, gap coverage is 100% worth it. I could have been stuck with $2,500 to pay off on a truck I didn't even have anymore. Never saw the truck or any of my stuff again.

The one thing they didn't cover was all my electronics gear I had in it. Close to $2,000 in GPSr, iPOD, radios, XM Radio, portable DVD player, 4x4 recovery stuff etc. They even got hold of a checkbook that I didn't even realize was in there. It didn't take them long to write out three or four checks totaling around $2,000. Luckily, I caught it the same day the checks cleared and my bank reimbursed all the money. Don't think your signature matters on a check. They printed my name on the signature line and nobody made a peep.

I don't keep anything of value in my vehicles anymore. I bought a black canvas toolbag that I carry all my electronics in now. I take maybe 30 seconds to a minute to put everything in its place when I get in my truck then put it all back in the bag when I get out. I figured the canvas toolbag would look less like a purse, but well, it still looks like I'm carrying a purse. I don't care, I don't have to worry about stuff in my truck anymore.

At any rate, I hope they catch the people who did it.

[LimeJeeeep]

this somewhat of a long thread...didnt read every post..but is there a phone # for this campground?.....better yet heres the website.i,ll be giving them a call they need to know that there lack of security will cost them

http://www.rvingusa.com/detail.cfm?idnum=105%20%20%20%20%20%20%20


http://www.rvingusa.com/map.cfm?map=105map%2Ejpg

for me its voting with my dollar,and they want my dollar

[austinado16]

I don't know which was worse, the actual theft of the Blazer, or hearing, and then seeing what had been done to it.  We're huge car nuts, and these old school K5 Blazers (and 'burbs) have a huge following.  To see what was an incredibly nice Blazer be reduced to just a scrap of a shell......well, that was a tough pill to swallow.  Especially when parts for them are so cheap, and they are stacked high in every wrecking yard.  What a waste of a great truck.

On the other hand, State Farm paid out huge.  Something like just over 11 grand for vehicle and contents.  Not bad for an '89 Blazer!  Of course this was before fuel prices went ballistic, so these and the 'burbs still had all kinds of value.