Embarrassing, frightening, unerving experience

[Chuns]

You will all think “What a prat.”

I suppose I am a bit lax about security, I don’t know whether my strong optimistic nature leads me to have a sense of invulnerability, or that I am as described above.

On returning from about half an hour in the E Leclerc in Perpignan there was a momentary feeling of puzzlement, which led me to ask my wife “Why did you put my sterling wallet and the passports in your handbag?”. I had found the handbag on the seat by the hab door. That puzzlement was quickly replaced by the realisation that we had been 'turned over'.

It was quite a tidy job, cupboards opened, make-up bags upturned on the bed, the floor storage area hatch opened.

It seemed nothing had been taken - not the two iPads, nor the guitar, and bizarrely not my wife’s handbag, which had been stuffed with the passports, and the credit cards removed from my sterling wallet and Maggie’s purse.

It was only after the shock receded and we began to hide (ha ha) things away again that we realised the only thing that had been taken was the cash in my wallet and her purse - not a large amount of money at all.

Why hadn’t they taken that potentially valuable haul in the handbag?

The real puzzle is this. When we returned, and I activated the remote key fob, if I had forgotten to lock the van, that action would have locked it, and we couldn’t have got in initially. And if I had locked it, how did they get in? There was no sign of damage, anywhere.

And why leave the handbag there, as if ready to snatch, and shut the door. It was almost as if we were being taunted. They could have taken it, but didn't.

Of course now I will be much more rigorous. It could have ruined this whole trip.

 

[Chuns]

I should have mentioned they took both our Rolexes, and the two spares, and I'm sure I smelled gas. Must call the insurance company!

 

[DandJ]

You've been lucky...out of that little haul, the only thing none identifiable was the cash...even if it was just 50eu...it was 50eu for 2 minutes work. Stuff it in your pocket and stroll away.

 

[Phill D]

Sorry to read this, must be really uncomfortable feeling.
But perhaps a lucky escape

Could not have been a real gassing they left the 2 iPads

 

[DBK]

An unnerving experience. We are a bit obsessive about security. Our passports and any sterling cash are always kept permanently in the MH safe when we are abroad. The only time they come out is if needed to book into a campsite. We carry photocopies of the passports in our wallets. I always have my wallet and debit card with me whenever I leave the MH. Tablets also locked in the safe if we are leaving the MH unattended. The safe also contains my credit card so if I'm mugged I can still access funds.

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[Nanniemate]

An unnerving experience. We are a bit obsessive about security. Our passports and any sterling cash are always kept permanently in the MH safe when we are abroad. The only time they come out is if needed to book into a campsite. We carry photocopies of the passports in our wallets. I always have my wallet and debit card with me whenever I leave the MH. Tablets also locked in the safe if we are leaving the MH unattended. The safe also contains my credit card so if I'm mugged I can still access funds.

Where the safe ?

 

[PP Bear]

Wonder if they had a look out and happened to see you returning and the quick grab was the money. Sorry to hear of your woes, but thankful it wasn’t worse than it is.

 

[David and Sally]

Does this mean we have to keep the Moho occupied when we go shopping? That suits me. I hate shopping so I will stay in the van

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

You will all think “What a prat.”

I suppose I am a bit lax about security, I don’t know whether my strong optimistic nature leads me to have a sense of invulnerability, or that I am as described above.

On returning from about half an hour in the E Leclerc in Perpignan there was a momentary feeling of puzzlement, which led me to ask my wife “Why did you put my sterling wallet and the passports in your handbag?”. I had found the handbag on the seat by the hab door. That puzzlement was quickly replaced by the realisation that we had been 'turned over'.

It was quite a tidy job, cupboards opened, make-up bags upturned on the bed, the floor storage area hatch opened.

It seemed nothing had been taken - not the two iPads, nor the guitar, and bizarrely not my wife’s handbag, which had been stuffed with the passports, and the credit cards removed from my sterling wallet and Maggie’s purse.

It was only after the shock receded and we began to hide (ha ha) things away again that we realised the only thing that had been taken was the cash in my wallet and her purse - not a large amount of money at all.

Why hadn’t they taken that potentially valuable haul in the handbag?

The real puzzle is this. When we returned, and I activated the remote key fob, if I had forgotten to lock the van, that action would have locked it, and we couldn’t have got in initially. And if I had locked it, how did they get in? There was no sign of damage, anywhere.

And why leave the handbag there, as if ready to snatch, and shut the door. It was almost as if we were being taunted. They could have taken it, but didn't.

Of course now I will be much more rigorous. It could have ruined this whole trip.

I think you were very lucky and that they were disturbed by you or someone so left the majority of the loot behind. A passport must be worth a lot of money to someone trying to get to the uk for example and credit cards can be used anywhere. No one looks at them when you pay..
Have you checked under the door handles for signs of a small hole ?

 

[AlunandFelicie]

Does this mean we have to keep the Moho occupied when we go shopping? That suits me. I hate shopping so I will stay in the van

I’d leave the wife in the MH ,that way we’d get what we needed not a trolley full of ‘bargains’ ,unusual things that might come in handy and gifts for the grandkids!

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[David and Sally]

I often wish the offenders would suffer badly from the results of their scumbaggery.

 

[maison]

We do carry cash with us when travelling abroad.

When in the motorhome it is secreted in two specially adapted and hidden locations. It is very unlikely that anyone would find them in a rushed search for valuables. We only carry “ready money” on us.

Where is it hidden……




……it wouldn’t be secret if I told!

 

[Riverbankannie]

As Jimbohorlicks said, check under drivers door handle for a small “ding”.

 

[DBK]

Where the safe ?

Same place it is in all Murvi.

 

[garry55]

I stay in the van with the dogs. I dislike shopping in large supermarkets (and shopping in general, motorcycle shops exempted) anyway and their big car parks can be a haven for thieves.

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[Abgs]

I’d leave the wife in the MH ,that way we’d get what we needed not a trolley full of ‘bargains’ ,unusual things that might come in handy and gifts for the grandkids!

Oh ... so true!

 

[Chuns]

Thanks Jimbohorlicks and Riverbankannie, no signs of entry that way.

Curiouser and curiouser.

We've put it behind us - we have a Wine Harvest Festival to enjoy!

 

[Phill D]

We have an easy access wallet!!

With a years old account well expired credit card and a few other odd bits in a 5E note and odd other currency notes of little value.

for the “ grab and go” scum bag.

 

[Chuns]

Riverbankannie & Jimbohorlicks, I just had a much closer look at the lock, and yes, there is a very small hole there. Barely visible. That explains it all.

I presume locking system will still work, with it having been a mechanical 'interference'?

One of those protective plate things for me when I get back. Talk about stable doors and bolting horses.

 

[Basildog]

Riverbankannie & Jimbohorlicks, I just had a much closer look at the lock, and yes, there is a very small hole there. Barely visible. That explains it all.

I presume locking system will still work, with it having been a mechanical 'interference'?

One of those protective plate things for me when I get back. Talk about stable doors and bolting horses.

They did our last van the same way
Personally I wouldn’t add anything that means more damage done if they try again, we had the door of be our Winnebago crow barred open ,causing nearly £10 k of damage

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[Chris]

We decided the safest option was to sell the van.

So our van was never broken into at a supermarket.

 

[Wildbill]

We all have security lapses please don’t let it worry you to much .
Dead locks and alarm will give you a bit of peace of mind
But won’t stop a scum bad theaf just slow them down
All the best for the rest of your trip
Jim can give you some grate security tips
WB

 

[PaulW2]

They did our last van the same way
Personally I wouldn’t add anything that means more damage done if they try again, we had the door of be our Winnebago crow barred open ,causing nearly £10 k of damage

I think you may be right. It will always be quite easy to crowbar open - it's a few seconds work - and it's just the amount of damage that changes.

Alarms and visible LEDs may be the more effective deterrent.

 

[carolyn]

I had my purse stollen when I forgot to do something I “always” do. I’d been kind and helped a load of people buy tickets at a railway station. The train was delayed an hour and then cancelled. In amongst this helpfulness I forgot to padlock my bag.

Fortunately I split my cards and cash between 2 purses and the other was in the van. They also didn’t get my iPhone so everything was cancelled in minutes.

Don’t beat yourself up. Mistakes happen.

 

[PaulW2]

I think you may be right. It will always be quite easy to crowbar open - it's a few seconds work - and it's just the amount of damage that changes.

Alarms and visible LEDs may be the more effective deterrent.

I had never really appreciated how quick some of these events can be.

Not motorhome-related, but something I was able to piece together for the police and my neighbour from camera footage.

A group of men broke through a side gate to my property (latched and locked) with a crowbar, cut across my back yard, jumped the fence, broke into the house of my neighbour in the house behind, stole some valuables, and made their way back out the same way.

Time elapsed from detection arriving on my drive to leaving the same way: 6 minutes.

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[gus-lopez]

One of those protective plate things for me when I get back. Talk about stable doors and bolting horses.

both doors want doing + anything else the central locking can be 'got at'

 

[Richard n Ann]

Even if just nipping into a supermarket I lock the cab deadlocks and use the arm thing across the cab door. So far the visual deterrent has worked and there's been no break in attempts