Thefts at Clumber park

[AlfromYC]

Some members of our club (www.youngcaravan.org), had a meet up at Clumber park CC site this weekend. One member had 2 cycles stolen, that were locked and chained to the rear of his motorhome! 5 more bikes were stolen from other people during Friday & Saturday night.

Aparently, the wardens are fully aware that thefts happen on a regular basis from the site, so why the hell dont the CC sort some security out? (I'm not blaming the wardens btw, as they did tell people to make sure bikes were locked)

His bikes were covered under his m/home insurance, but will still have to fork out for increased premiums next year due to making a claim. The whole point of going away is to relax, not be worring if some toe-rag is gonna pop on site in the middle of the night and steal what he/she wants.

Come on Caravan Club, sort it out!

 

[Royston]

I am afraid that Clumber park has a long history of thefts, over the years , there are two many side entrances into the site from the woods,which lead directly onto the roads that run through the park. The few times that i have been there we try to park close to the entrance, it also amazes me how expensive the site is , mind you they do advertise the fact that there is a lot of thieving that they have no control over.Untill the caravanning

public start to give it a wide berth , im afraid nothing will be done, to improve the hop over fence that surrounds the site.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello al.

With the greatest respect, it is not the fault of CC that certain members of society choose to trespass and take what is not theirs. Part of the difficulty would be to identify the offenders on a busy site.

The fault lies with the offenders.

I guess that even if the CC did put more security in place it will push up fees, and there are still likely to be thefts.

Sad as it is, but we all need to take security more seriously, we need to lock up loose items but also make your belongings less desirable than someone else's - don't buy the all singing and dancing item go for the one that meets your needs and no more. That way it is less desirable and it is less likely to be the stolen.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

It's a sad fact of life today that one of the best sites on the network has the worse record for thefts from cretins that have nothing to do with the club. Probably druggies who need to fund their habit without having to work. They don't have any conscience about theft because their philosophy is that you can claim off your insurance.

What is the answer? Do the club build an 8 foot fence topped with razor wire, watch towers, cctv and spoil the forest setting of the site?

Perhaps Dr. Rowan Williams is right, we should chop off their hands. Barbaric, yes, but they won't steal again and we already pay taxes to keep them on the dole.

 

[AlfromYC]

What I think the CC could do is;

If an item is damaged or stolen while on a CC site & you are insured via the CC, your no claims should not be affected.

Employ a security guard to roam around at night time.

Supply a locked & alarmed building to keep bikes or other large items in over night. Maybe they could charge 25p per item per night?

It amazes me that they know this goes on, but do nothing to try and stop it.

Sorry to rant on, but we pay high pitch fees, so we should have a safe and enjoyable holiday!

 

[tommy_374347067]

Hello al.

With the greatest respect, it is not the fault of CC that certain members of society choose to trespass and take what is not theirs. Part of the difficulty would be to identify the offenders on a busy site.

The fault lies with the offenders.

I guess that even if the CC did put more security in place it will push up fees, and there are still likely to be thefts.

Sad as it is, but we all need to take security more seriously, we need to lock up loose items but also make your belongings less desirable than someone else's - don't buy the all singing and dancing item go for the one that meets your needs and no more. That way it is less desirable and it is less likely to be the stolen.

the bikes were locked up with 2 locks also strapped up they cut the locks and burnt the straps not just mine but 5 other families as for the all singin and dancin the bikes were to our needs. i do d/h and the missis bike was very basic, so they will take anything they want

 

[tommy_374347067]

they could install cctv if they cant afford to pay for a patrol ( although the caravan club is the biggest club out there so it shouldnt be a problem )its a one off payment and is a permanant security solution for them

 

[coljac]

What I think the CC could do is;

If an item is damaged or stolen while on a CC site & you are insured via the CC, your no claims should not be affected.

Employ a security guard to roam around at night time.

Supply a locked & alarmed building to keep bikes or other large items in over night. Maybe they could charge 25p per item per night?

It amazes me that they know this goes on, but do nothing to try and stop it.

Sorry to rant on, but we pay high pitch fees, so we should have a safe and enjoyable holiday!

Now that was a very good reply .

for once something practical [providing a locked alarmed shed ]

It is a shame that we have to go to these lengths to protect our property but im afraid that is the society we have created Col

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

What I think the CC could do is;

If an item is damaged or stolen while on a CC site & you are insured via the CC, your no claims should not be affected.

Employ a security guard to roam around at night time.

Supply a locked & alarmed building to keep bikes or other large items in over night. Maybe they could charge 25p per item per night?

It amazes me that they know this goes on, but do nothing to try and stop it.

Sorry to rant on, but we pay high pitch fees, so we should have a safe and enjoyable holiday!

Col I'm all for a locked shed but rather than it be alarmed I would prefer it to be armed. I mean armed by having the shed electrified so that the thieving *******s get a few thousand faults to learn them a lesson :O)

Oh and have a cctv there to film it for It Wont Be Alright On The Night :O)

 

[Rod_5041370]

I do not believe that the CC would be allowed to do as you all suggest as I'm fairly sure that the site is owned by the National Trust.

 

[Rod_5041370]

I do not believe that the CC would be allowed to do as you all suggest as I'm fairly sure that the site is owned by the National Trust.

Or is it the Forestry Commision??

 

[Ray R]

How about armed guards and dogs, but then I suppose someone would complain about the dogs !!.

 

[MrsMothy]

Now that was a very good reply .

for once something practical [providing a locked alarmed shed ]

It is a shame that we have to go to these lengths to protect our property but im afraid that is the society we have created Col

Hi

I agree a locked alarmed shed could be the answer. Perhaps it should be locked a dusk with no admittance under any circumstances. Our half bikes will fit in the back of the car with back seats down and an old duvet between but the tandem won't. It would be nice to just wheel them into a shed and lock them in the normal way and know that if 'white van man' commeth then an alarm will sound his arrival and big burlery caravaners will descend on him from all directions!!! This is organised crime we are talking about. Not just druggies etc. These idiots make a living from selling yours and my property without our sayso and with no benefit to you or me.

Denise

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

I do not believe that the CC would be allowed to do as you all suggest as I'm fairly sure that the site is owned by the National Trust.

Right first time :O)

 

[MrsMothy]

Perhaps they should have a locked, secure, alarmed shed that is inaccessible after dusk or before dawn without special arrangements with the site wardens. If the alarm goes off they will have to face a number of irrate caravanners which will mean they will need to use the laundrey facilities. These low-lifes are not opportunists or fellow caravaners but organised thieves who drive up in their white vans while decent people sleep and steal to sell for a living.

Denise

 

[LMH]

I've heard about thefts from Clumber in the past on numerous occasions I must say.

I agree with Al the elddisman - a security person is needed but I don't know how the site could recoup the costs. If they had one on day shift and one on night shift, the money will add up considerably.

Agree with some sort of locable building for bikes.

Lisa

 

[Ian_5040589]

Hmmm..bit worrying this. We are due to go to Clumber this week.

The wardens warned us about this a couple of months ago when we were last there.

Its a shame because its a nice site (bit pricey though).

Might shop around for an alternative site rather than go and risk losing my 5yo's new bike which we normally lock in the car (although it can still be seen).

 

[LMH]

I'm thinking about cancelling my booking - not worried about bikes as we don't take them, it's the fear of having my dogs stolen. LOL!

Lisa

 

[brightredrover]

Hi Al, long time no speak!!!! hope the family are OK.

on your point, we have been to Clumber a few times recently with no issues however on check in last time we were told to remove valuables such as Tom tom from the car!!!!

think the idea regarding security is a good one that would work. Surely it would not be a huge cost to the cc to have a security man wandering wound for a couple of hours each night!!!!

lets face it with a site in such a location, it is impossible to keep them out but a security guard would certainly be a deterrent!!!!

 

[SteveW77]

It doesn't help when there is a huge Sunday market nearby, where you can buy a secondhand bike for

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

..... or a large car boot sale just down the road from the market at the windmill crossroads.

 

[AlfromYC]

Hi BRR, we are all fine thanks. Hope you & yours are well.

I have been on smaller sites that have night security patrols, and also charge less per night. So surely the CC can sacrifice some of its huge profit to make its members more secure.

Even putting up dummy cameras, and warning signs would cut thefts by half.

I agree its not the CC's fault for how people behave, but surely steps to stop trespassers isn't to much to ask?

Lets hope that the CC see the various posts about this and sort something out, or how about P/C mag running a feature about it or contacting the CC direct?

 

[AlfromYC]

I have emailed the CC, so we'll see what they have to say about it.

 

[ThePlotter]

I would have thought installing CCTV would help if the quality is good in order that the culprits could be identified,or even the police if not nicking motorists on the A1 could set up a sting.

Different I know but at the CC site at Tewkesbury there used to be warning signs for vans near the fence as the local yobs throw things at the vans over the fence.

 

[Pablo1]

As these thefts have been taking place over quite some time, I wonder how much is the total value of all the stolen bikes and other property? Quite a substantial sum no doubt. And how many of these thefts have been notified to the police? Perhaps the wardens should be encouraging this, as it would look bad on police statistics! That may provoke some action.

It's sad that organisations as large as the Caravan Club and National Trust cannot lobby a little political pressure on the police to take some action. Perhaps if everyone suffering loss complained to CC, not just the wardens, and National Trust, something may be done.