Some security concerns

[clown9644]

I add this picture only as a means of humor, not to add anything to the discussion that has any bearing. Please forgive my sick mind.

 

[Lesherp]

I provided two links in the #2 post. The first is a discussion of how secure the TM is. In the first link post #10 and #18 tells how to quickly and easily it is get into a locked TM if you are familiar with them.

The second link is about self defense. After reading it I purchased a can of bear spray. It has a 30 foot range, glow in the dark safety mechanism to prevent accidental discharge and permit immediate location for firing at night. It is large enough to stop a grizzly bear or multiple two legged problems. I am sure the wasp spry would do the job however the bear spay will not cause any permanent injury. This would be my first choice in dealing with an intruder. In today’s world I could see where you could be attacked and be the one in court for blinding someone with wasp spray.

On our 6 week trip to Utah one night DW woke me up and said “There was a car here a little while ago and they are back and I think they are walking around the camp site now.” It was 2 in the morning. A bit alarming as I keep my generator outside (locked up but they would not know that until they looked). I keep the bear spray in the door so I grabbed my second line of defense I keep next to the bed and rolled out to peek through the windows. As I am watching I discover they are setting up a tent in our camp site. LOL It turned out to be a couple of kids that had driven all night so they could bike in the morning. The camp sites in the area fill up and ours was big enough to be mistaken by a couple of tired kids for 2 sites. It was no big deal and they moved on after breakfast in the morning.

At two in the morning with someone walking around the campsite with a flashlight it was reassuring to have something I could defend myself with if need be.

 

[mcgyver210]

I provided two links in the #2 post. The first is a discussion of how secure the TM is. In the first link post #10 and #18 tells how to quickly and easily it is get into a locked TM if you are familiar with them.

The second link is about self defense. After reading it I purchased a can of bear spray. It has a 30 foot range, glow in the dark safety mechanism to prevent accidental discharge and permit immediate location for firing at night. It is large enough to stop a grizzly bear or multiple two legged problems. I am sure the wasp spry would do the job however the bear spay will not cause any permanent injury. This would be my first choice in dealing with an intruder. In today’s world I could see where you could be attacked and be the one in court for blinding someone with wasp spray.

On our 6 week trip to Utah one night DW woke me up and said “There was a car here a little while ago and they are back and I think they are walking around the camp site now.” It was 2 in the morning. A bit alarming as I keep my generator outside (locked up but they would not know that until they looked). I keep the bear spray in the door so I grabbed my second line of defense I keep next to the bed and rolled out to peek through the windows. As I am watching I discover they are setting up a tent in our camp site. LOL It turned out to be a couple of kids that had driven all night so they could bike in the morning. The camp sites in the area fill up and ours was big enough to be mistaken by a couple of tired kids for 2 sites. It was no big deal and they moved on after breakfast in the morning.

At two in the morning with someone walking around the campsite with a flashlight it was reassuring to have something I could defend myself with if need be.

We are never without multiple defensive weapons. All three of us are trained in Martial Arts & our son is a Black Belt but that isn't our last or only defensive weapon. I was a Boy Scout so I believe in the Moto "Be Prepared"

 

[PopBeavers]

One evening when I was 13, I was the first one home. So I was the one that walked in on the two burglars.

Having your arm twisted up behind your back with a knife at your throat changes your perspective of things.

On a previous occasion, what my mother thought was my oldest brother sleep walking again was actually a midnight burglar.

After these two experiences, camping seems safer than city living.

In California, a day time burglary is a misdemeanor. At night it is a felony. Thieves know this, and time their crimes accordingly.

If someone is home then it is robbery and as far as I know robbery is always a felony.

 

[mcgyver210]

One evening when I was 13, I was the first one home. So I was the one that walked in on the two burglars.

Having your arm twisted up behind your back with a knife at your throat changes your perspective of things.

On a previous occasion, what my mother thought was my oldest brother sleep walking again was actually a midnight burglar.

After these two experiences, camping seems safer than city living.

In California, a day time burglary is a misdemeanor. At night it is a felony. Thieves know this, and time their crimes accordingly.

If someone is home then it is robbery and as far as I know robbery is always a felony.

WOW not good experiences for sure.

Unfortunately I also have experience with violent attacks. I was a scrawny little kid & was bullied until I learned how to defend my self. I don't even walk to my vehicle without being aware of surroundings which to me is the most important thing you can do to protect yourself.

 

[hillbillyhotel]

i really like the wasp spray idea and the bear spay
this thought was on my mind a few wks back ,we was the only ones in cg for two nights , kinda off the beaten path, knew if we could get a call out, it would be a 1/2 hr or longer before anyone could be to us. if anything it highten my scenses,
but we also travel with the dogs, my boy, bon looks somewhat intimitdating,70 lbs with the black face and blue eyes, vet thinks he is sheperd, husky, mix, and i wonder if he would bite anything but a biscuit,but just the sight of him being around kinda make us feel safer,
kinda funny , the wifes freindly looking collie , to say it nicely is the fussy one , she takes it personal if you come into the camp site , she can't go out so you cant come in

 

[moaboy]

My TM is in the garage so I don't have a sense of how hard or helpful this would be, but how about adding a second latch to the original one that holds the two doors together? Seems like it would be easier than another deadbolt, granted not as secure, but would strengthen the existing arrangement and make it harder to undo the doors which seems to be one of the weaker points.

 

[MudDog-TMO]

In California, a day time burglary is a misdemeanor. At night it is a felony. Thieves know this, and time their crimes accordingly.

.

from http://www.shouselaw.com/burglary.html


"It is interesting to note how this law has changed. In the late 1800s, first degree burglaries were committed at night, second degree burglaries during the day. Then in 1923, first degree burglary expanded to include inhabited dwelling houses that were burgled at night and burglaries that involved deadly weapons or assault, regardless of the time of day the burglary occurred.

In 1976, the legislature deleted the language regarding weapons and assaults. Then in 1982, the nighttime requirement was deleted"

 

[MudDog-TMO]

I think one of the biggest deterents, assuming others are relatively nearby and you are not boondocking alone, is NOISE.

If your tow vehicle has a keyless entry/alarm with panic button you could set it off remotely from inside the TM if someone was trying to get in.

They also sell very LOUD (130db) panic alarms you could keep in the TM.

Most people looking for trouble aren't looking to get caught and would likely flee with that kind of noise/attention being drawn to them.

Found this site (UK, but they have US re-sellers):

http://www.ilasecurity.com/uk/

--jim

 

[PopBeavers]

You could also make all of the exterior TM lights flash. Simple mod.

 

[grakin]

I've camped in everything from KOAs to truck stop parking lots to forest roads that have two or three letters after the number (in other words VERY remote).

I'm probably safer in a campground in my camper than in a lot of other places. As for a populated campground, it's unlikely someone will try to physically attack you - too easy to get caught or worse from the bad guy's perspective. And my camper is at least as hard to break into as my home - the difference is that at a populated campground, my neighbor is 10 feet away, not 50 or 100 feet away, so it's a lot more risky to the bad guy.

As for property crime, theft is probably a lot more common. I try not to tempt fate too much and generally don't display things that others might find worth stealing. Don't leave your beer in your cooler - that's the only crime I've ever experienced (probably kids that thought they hit the jackpot - beer that tastes like beer instead of that stuff they usually drink!).

I wouldn't worry about it too much personally. But if it helps you to sleep at night and it's legal wherever you are camping, get trained (if you aren't already) and carry an appropriate defensive tool.

 

[PopBeavers]

But if it helps you to sleep at night and it's legal wherever you are camping, get trained (if you aren't already) and carry an appropriate defensive tool.

I never think about this. I have never been trained on a hand gun, but as a minor, many years ago, I had to take a hunter safety course before I could get my hunting license.

With a Winchester 30/30 I used to be able to hit a large paper plate at 50 yards with open sights (no scope).

Does that count as training for a rifle?

A 30/30 is a pretty good brush rifle. It is short enough and light enough to swing it around pretty easily. Not as easy as a hand gun, but still I would prefer a 30/30 with open sights over a 30 ought 6 with scope (my dad's weapon of choice).

I have not fired a rifle, excluding BB guns, since 1975.

Never pull out a rifle or hand gun unless you intend to use it.

Never pull the trigger unless you intend to kill.

 

[klv5920]

I'm sticking with the Bear spray! And the bee spray!

Karen

 

[clown9644]

Having a gun is a very serious decision.

I would NEVER suggest anyone carry any form of gun, rifle,pistol etc. without proper training!! Some kick, some don't. You need a pro to show you everything about the weapon and you need to practice. I fire at least a box of ammo a quarter just so the feel is there.
I agree, never pull any form of weapon unless you are willing to use it, to the ultimate. You pull it out and are afraid to pull the trigger you could end up looking down the barrel of your own weapon.

Another aspect of the safety is where do you store it when you are out of the camper and not carrying. Personally, I have a small safe hidden in my camper and it is locked in there. There are places you CANNOT carry such as Canada.

By the way- a 20 gauge shotgun is a very nice home protection gun. Big enough to scare the heck out of the bad guy, small enough anyone can shoot it. A wee bit hard to conceal carry though.

Serious thought before action please!
Dave

 

[PopBeavers]

When I was in the Boy Scout Explorers, the adviser had a shot gun, sawed off to a length 1/4 inch longer than allowed by California law. As I recall that was 18 1/4 inches. I do not recall the gauge. It was not the small diameter shells, so I am guessing it was 20 and not 14.

We referred to it as the flaming dragon. At night it threw a flash of light out past the end of the barrel a few inches. Very intimidating to see.

Each year when the new kids arrived we let them have a turn first. Most had never fired a weapon before. They fired from a standing position. We always had someone standing behind them to catch them. Some fell over backwards, because we had not yet taught them to lean forward.

We fired home loads. The wad pressure was not consistent, so some shells had a little more kick than others.

As I recall, when traveling through a game refuge (at least in California) or through a National Park, you can not have a weapon in firing condition. You are required to partially disassemble the weapon. Don't quote me on that one.

 

[B_and_D]

Our office staff received training on how to use pepper spray by a Salinas, CA police officer, and he told us that it doesn't work on raccoons. He's a pretty smart guy, so I believe him. Raccoons can be pretty cute, especially the babies, but they can also be really mean and nasty. We have a lot of them around our house.

 

[Redhawk]

I think one of the best "protection" firearms is "The Judge" . A pistol that shoots 410 shotgun shells and .44 cal bullets. Or is it .45 ?

 

[PopBeavers]

I think one of the best "protection" firearms is "The Judge" . A pistol that shoots 410 shotgun shells and .44 cal bullets. Or is it .45 ?

A fried of mine loads his handgun with snake shot in the first round and bullets thereafter. I never understood his logic.

 

[Shrimpburrito]

A fried of mine loads his handgun with snake shot in the first round and bullets thereafter. I never understood his logic.

That way, the first round serves as a warning that he means business, but is non-lethal. If that doesn't work, the second and subsequent rounds will be substantially more effective.

Some folks load self-defense shotguns this way: bird shot with the first round, and big ball bearing size loads in subsequent rounds.

Dave

 

[T and C]

Folks,

One thing to remember about pepper/bear/wasp sprays is that they fill the air with tiny droplets of toxic/irritating liquids. They spread rapidly due to pressure and heat variations. If you were to spray someone in the door or interior of your trailer, it would only be a few seconds before some of the droplets reach where you are. On pepper spray packages the advice is to spray then leave the area immediately.

I once tested a pepper spray, then removed a little piece of fuzz from the nozzle. A little while later I unthinkingly rubbed my eye.

OUCH!!!!!! :SHOCKED:

Another thing to remember is that some people are able to resist regular police level pepper spray due to drugs or whatever. I once saw a youtube video where they were pepper spraying female marine trainees in the face with pepper spray, and then making them fight another girl with pungee sticks. Think a 5 foot pole with big firm pads on both ends for hitting you in the head. The point is that these girls were able to do it!

Tom