Broken into in France

[CUJIMI]

Just wanted to pass on my experience in France of being broken into. We were with friends and we both were travelling for about 8 hours on our way to Cannes. We stupidly parked up in the motorway services at Orange. I'd read everything before about staying away from these services but we thought we would take the chance. We even parked in the area for caravans and motorhomes which was well away from the main services. It was a very windy and rainy night so all sorts of weather noise. Luckily our dog started barking at the door. We thought it was just the wind that she was barking at and tried to get her to shut up. Of course I was groggy with sleep, not gassed, I have read all the posts on that one. I went to open the door and found it was already open and our friends were likewise up and about as their dog had alerted them. I have no doubt that without our dog we could have been robbed and we would have been none the wiser as at that time we were both sound asleep. Our door lock was broken but apart from that no other damage.

Anyway our first thoughts were to buy gas alarms but after reading all the posts on that one we won't bother now. We will be looking at beefing up our security though.

Feel a bit stupid but will learn from the experience. Proper aires and campsites from now on.

 

[scousebird]

Bad luck but no one was hurt at least.

 

[pappajohn]

See.....you dont need to be gassed to be robbed, deep sleep is all it takes......but its a good excuse if anyone is gullible enough to believe it.

As you say, no dog......no valuables.

 

[irnbru]

Sorry to hear about this. Good work for your dog, hope it got a well earned treat.

 

[CUJIMI]

Sorry to hear about this. Good work for your dog, hope it got a well earned treat.

It had a very good day that day.

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[gozomike]

Sorry to hear of your problems. A visit to Vanbitz may be a good idea.

 

[Larrynwin]

Glad you're ok , could have been worse.

 

[Cat53]

You already have the best alarm in the world......your dog! Well done doggy!

 

[CUJIMI]

Sorry to hear of your problems. A visit to Vanbitz may be a good idea.

Thanks will definitely be fitting a good alarm system. Like the look of this one.

 

[CUJIMI]

You already have the best alarm in the world......your dog! Well done doggy!

Thing is we have two dogs. The other one slept through it all. But yes we love our dogs.

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[Cat53]

Typical!

 

[Parcverger]

Yes, glad you are OK. We've always advised against stopping on autoroute services when en route to or from us, and have only known of a couple of such incidents, one involving Geo a few years ago. France is very safe for motorhomers, but it is worth being very careful about where to stopover.

Bob
www.parcverger.com

 

[Puddleduck]

Glad you were no hurt and that no serious damage was done.

 

[DBK]

The weather factor is interesting. The only time I have been burgled was in a tent - on a stormy night when you couldn't here them moving around.

 

[parknride]

Glad to hear everyone safe. Extra treats for superdoggy

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[gus-lopez]

Thing is we have two dogs. The other one slept through it all. But yes we love our dogs.

He was obviously the day shift guard dog !

 

[DomingoDeSantaClara]

My decision to buy a dog is looking better all the time,glad to hear you escaped without any injury or loss.

 

[CUJIMI]

Thanks for all kind thoughts and yes a dog is a great accessory for a motorhome.

 

[iandsm]

Thanks for all kind thoughts and yes a dog is a great accessory for a motorhome.

It certainly is. I always leave a very large dog bowl with some water in it outside the camper door as well as one of those very strong wire leads so it looks like we haver a Rotwieler, we have a poodle. Funnily enough, I would go up against a rottie rather than face our poodle any day . Very pretty, just like the poodle Fluffles in Wallace and Grommit, but a really nasty piece of work with any strangers infiltrating her territory.

 

[Steve101uk]

good that everyone is safe, that the first thing.

I have one of these fitted to the door, open the door and it makes plenty of noise, enough to wake us up, really cheaper and simple. Broken Link Removed

you could also use a rachet strap to hold the front doors closed, my only concern with that is if u had to exit the motorhome quickly, such as if you had a fire.

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[hilldweller]

Feel a bit stupid

Not really, unlucky yes. You can be broken into anywhere.

A good while ago I posted an ebay door alarm costing maybe a fiver that would have alerted you.

 

[normanandsue]

Hook your seat belts through the door handle, quick release if needed then. I fitted one of those window alarms on the habitation door - it works a treat. Secret of alarm is for it to make enough noise to wake you up and to draw attention to those seeking to break in.

 

[DanielFord]

I apologise if it has been covered already, was the door left unlocked, or had they popped it open?

 

[EssexBoy]

Funnily enough, I would go up against a rottie rather than face our poodle any day

Don't the French Police use poodles, the same as ours use the German Shepards?

 

[iandsm]

Don't the French Police use poodles, the same as ours use the German Shepards?

Haven't seen them using poodles but if they don't they should. They are not a dog you take liberties with, contrary to what some might think.

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[CUJIMI]

It certainly is. I always leave a very large dog bowl with some water in it outside the camper door as well as one of those very strong wire leads so it looks like we haver a Rotwieler, we have a poodle. Funnily enough, I would go up against a rottie rather than face our poodle any day . Very pretty, just like the poodle Fluffles in Wallace and Grommit, but a really nasty piece of work with any strangers infiltrating her territory.

Our little dog is a poodle bichon fries cross and I wouldn't like t be a burglar facing him. It must be the poodle. Unfortunately he was the one that slept through it all.

 

[Spidey]

Sorry about your breakin, hope there wasnt much damage. We are off to Europe for the first time this summer and heard about motorway services. This may be a stupid question but are they ok to stop in for a break during the day?

 

[mjltigger]

Sorry about your breakin, hope there wasnt much damage. We are off to Europe for the first time this summer and heard about motorway services. This may be a stupid question but are they ok to stop in for a break during the day?

on a post about a really bad experience it seems silly to say they are completely safe but this is the first thread like this I've read on here. I've been on the forum 7 or 8 months I thinK. That seems pretty safe to me... Like has been said, this is horrible but you can be broken into anywhere. you are most likely to get broken into on A
a dark windy or rainy night. You have to weigh up the risk against how tired you are I guess..

One question for the OP, was it the hab door?

 

[Fragle]

Sorry to hear of your problems. A visit to Vanbitz may be a good idea.

Ditto. We slept very well last week knowing a very good alarm was on. This was our first time abroad with the van and I was concerned but those blue flashing LEDs show a quality bit of kit. Might not stop them but they'll think twice and I'll hear them if they do. Even with the dog in the van.
Glad your all ok though

 

[Fragle]

Sorry about your breakin, hope there wasnt much damage. We are off to Europe for the first time this summer and heard about motorway services. This may be a stupid question but are they ok to stop in for a break during the day?

We've stayed during the day as stops with the caravan over 20 years and never seen or heard of a problem during the day. Obviously same as here you have to be sensible. But never ever use at night.

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