Robbed on an Aire in France

[Minxy]

It is really unfortunate that you've had this experience and no-one can be totally immune to it. We never stay on motorway/major road aires as is would easily be possible to sleep through just about anything in a MH, especially after you have been travelling for a long while and are tired.

To give you an example of what you can sleep through, our dog Romy is nearly 16 and needs letting out overnight, hubby can get up, put the light on, take the alarm off (it beeps) and open the sliding door, step out, shut the door, open it again, get in with the dog, slide the door shut, leg the 'soft close' mechanism do it's thing, lock and alarm the camper (3 loud beeps) and come back to bed without waking me up at all and I'm a light sleeper (and don't drink!). If I get up in the night hubby may wake and I can have a conversation with him and he's totally oblivious to it in the morning!

 

[peterc10]

I felt really tired and heavy headed and some people have suggested that we was gassed!! Is this possible? My hubby says he felt okay but I was very tired! Makes you wonder.

As others have said gassing is another urban myth. .

You had a long day driving and being driven, which is very tiring. We always sleep like logs when on the move

 

[Barclaybasher]

My car was broken into parked on a main road in Barcelona in the middle of the day.

Returned to find the boot lid weighted down with rocks.

British registered car - looking back an obvious target

Been to Barcelona many times since to catch ferries - never left unattended since - lesson learned

 

[TUCANO]

Don't let one bad experience deter you from having lots of fun in the future with your van. A hard way to learn a lesson but at least neither of you were harmed, you live to breath for a lot more days.
Perhaps explore the UK to build up your confidence again.

 

[eddie]

Maybe they didn't know about it?

It can be confusing when we refer to "Aires" and don't differentiate between motorway service areas and camping car service areas as both are "Aires" .

Not always, lots of lovely areas on some motorways

As others have said, I have absolutely no hesitation in staying on Motorway Aires, nor do I have any evidence to suggest that my customers are more vulnerable staying on motorway aires and I do speak to a lot of people that come to us as they have had an security issue or scare.

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[monzer]

Knocked out with what?

Not sure but there's no way these guys are able to break in to vans, walk around right next to the occupants, go through all their belongings and make off with the goodies with out some kind of sedative being used.

 

[colyboy]

Eddie I feel you have it wrong. They stayed in a motorway service area not a motorway “Aire”.
Too late now but never ever stay in a motorway service area. You were NOT gassed.

Colyboy

 

[Puddleduck]

Not sure but there's no way these guys are able to break in to vans, walk around right next to the occupants, go through all their belongings and make off with the goodies with out some kind of sedative being used.

I've slept through an earthquake (at home). I don't drink alcohol or use sedatives. If I could sleep through that I could sleep through a break in.

 

[Lanerboy]

As others have said gassing is another urban myth. .

You had a long day driving and being driven, which is very tiring. We always sleep like logs when on the move

I know nothing about gassing but I do recall Jenson Button and his then wife being gassed and robbed but can't remember the details

 

[monzer]

I've slept through an earthquake (at home). I don't drink alcohol or use sedatives. If I could sleep through that I could sleep through a break in.

Well of course everybody is different but I certainly would wake if anyone tried getting in and the guy in my original post obviously woke up and saw the robber going through his jeans right beside him but was too out of it to make it register so I ain't putting that down to being a bit sleepy, gotta be some other source of drowsiness in my opinion.

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[Jim]

I know nothing about gassing but I do recall Jenson Button and his then wife being gassed and robbed but can't remember the details

It was never confirmed he was gassed. I even recall he had a blood test, but he just slept through a burglary like millions have before him.

 

[Jim]

aw the robber going through his jeans right beside him

In a gas mask one presumes

 

[Nikkijt]

We just pulled in to the services with not really much idea of frances amenities for motorhomes as like I said earlier we are quite new to this and don’t really know anyone else with a similar hobby. We travel to Spain quite regular but mainly on the Portsmouth to Santander boat so never really stayed overnight on a site plus it was the first time we took it abroad.

 

[monzer]

It was never confirmed he was gassed. I even recall he had a blood test, but he just slept through a burglary like millions have before him.

Could be something else like being followed whilst out and about and something dropped in a drink then followed back to the house/ van.

Yes, some people are deep sleepers but I can't for the life of me see someone breaking in to what is basically a tin box on wheels, rummaging around through cupboards and the like and disapearing with phones, cash etc without anyone waking.

 

[Nikkijt]

I wonder why they only joined the forum today to air a story from the 22nd Dec? Id have thought if you were new to Motorhoming you'd join the forum (and pay) and get some advise before travelling.

I'm sceptical.

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[Jim]

but I can't for the life of me see someone breaking in to what is basically a tin box on wheels, rummaging around through cupboards and the like and disapearing with phones, cash etc without anyone waking.

Nor can other people, thats why they're convinced they've been gassed. They haven't.

 

[Minxy]

Well of course everybody is different but I certainly would wake if anyone tried getting in and the guy in my original post obviously woke up and saw the robber going through his jeans right beside him but was too out of it to make it register so I ain't putting that down to being a bit sleepy, gotta be some other source of drowsiness in my opinion.

You can't be sure you'd wake up ... I thought I would but after hubby's having to get up in the night and me not waking up at all I wouldn't bet on it.

 

[TUCANO]

No its not possible to be gassed....unless its from a fart Alcohol does play apart sometimes.

I've heard enough and learned enough from this site that we will never stay overnight in a service station abroad, besides the aires in France are plentiful so no need.

Don't let it put you off. If somewhere doesn't feel right then move. Always trust your gut.

@irnbru
How can you say "trust your gut" after saying earlier that a fart can gas you
Sandra, hope you are all well

 

[Steve N Tracy]

Driving makes you more tired then you think We always sleep more soundly then normal after a longish drive, chances are the perpetrators may have been following you along the road for some distance.

 

[Puddleduck]

Could be something else like being followed whilst out and about and something dropped in a drink then followed back to the house/ van.

Yes, some people are deep sleepers but I can't for the life of me see someone breaking in to what is basically a tin box on wheels, rummaging around through cupboards and the like and disapearing with phones, cash etc without anyone waking.

Yes the spiked drink is possible.

I don't wake up when people get up and wander round the van at night, even when my son made himself a hot drink and opened the fridge (the light would have come on near my head) all I did was turn over and away from the light. I sleep better in the van than in my bed at home.

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[monzer]

You can't be sure you'd wake up ... I thought I would but after hubby's having to get up in the night and me not waking up at all I wouldn't bet on it.

Morning after NYE granted I will give you that, my van could have been picked up and popped in a crusher and I would not have woken. Any other time I guarantee I would be up.

Nor can other people, thats why they're convinced they've been gassed. They haven't.

All due respect, you can't say that for certain. I'm going on second hand stories here but I believe the guy and if he says he 'woke' at some point and remembers seeing the guy going through his jeans off the floor then in my opinion some form of sedative must have been used.

Even heavy sleepers don't wake up, see someone going through their possessions then think 'ah well, sod it, I'm going to have another half hour ZZZZzzz'

 

[138go]

So sorry to read this, I hope you are both recovering from your horrible ordeal.

Even if we stop for lunch on the motorway we don’t leave the vehicle and we sit with the doors locked. We would never open the door for anyone.

As others have said, choose where you stop the night very carefully. We use the French Aires but only those a bit off the beaten track. If either of us feel uneasy we move. The best Aires for us are in small, rural villages and we don’t stop if we are alone. We don’t mind driving a bit further if it means feeling safer.

We avoid busy Aires by roads and any in a town. We have met several people who have been robbed, so yes it happens.

We have an alarm and a dog.

The gassing is a myth.

 

[Puddleduck]

Even heavy sleepers don't wake up, see someone going through their possessions then think 'ah well, sod it, I'm going to have another half hour ZZZZzzz'

I think anyone who has worked in a hospital or the hotel industry would disagree.

 

[mitzimad]

that is terrible to hear I hope you both are ok and get over this

I have never been abroad in my motor home but wish to try it this year so can people on here please explain to

Why are the Aires safe to stay in as I thought these were just areas anyone can stay in or get into in public areas so no better than the services and are not safe like a campsite should be or am I missing something and got it all wrong

like brittain thieves head towards the bright lights theirs little chance of getting your pocket picked in a rural lane but a much higher chance in oxford st So motorway services are a hot spot for crime lots of people many in holiday mode or tired from travelling

 

[monzer]

I think anyone who has worked in a hospital or the hotel industry would disagree.

Not buying it.

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[Jim]

All due respect, you can't say that for certain.

No but the Royal College of Anaesthetists probably would.

 

[peterc10]

I know nothing about gassing but I do recall Jenson Button and his then wife being gassed and robbed but can't remember the details

I think you may recall that it was reported they were, but without a shred of evidence to support it. Journalists are never ones to let facts get in the way of a good story.

Just read the link in my post #32 to find out what the experts who put people to sleep every day for a living think about the idea.

 

[monzer]

No but the Royal College of Anaesthetists probably would.

What do they know?.....(can't find the whistling emoji)

Like I said, maybe they aren't sitting outside pumping noxious chemicals in to the van but something in another form could easily have been used. Slip something in a couple of drinks then follow them back to the van. Give it a half hour then in they go.

 

[peterc10]

The thieves are not experts at gassing anybody, but anaesthetists are. But thieves are experts at getting in and moving about in a motorhome very quietly.

 

[Jim]

Not buying it.

I remember being with 6 giggling drunk lads carrying a sober but tired guy and his bed to another identical room but in another building 300 yards away, we nearly dropped him twice on the way He never woke, we didn't gas him

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