runnach
Full Member
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I wasn’t going to put this out there, as we are now getting over this mornings early event that hit us, and in reflection, I think it is prudent to let forum members know of situation in the early hours of this morning, and to have additional door security.
We passed Nice enroute to Grasse, near Cannes a long motorway tailback, three lanes stacked up, and as we were approaching a motorway service aire, we pulled in. A large aire, we headed to the camping car area at Mougins aire. We were the only ones there with a camper. We viewed the logjam still happening on the MW. We decided to stop for the night, which is something we have done often while touring, tired, pull in and sleep with no hassles, until this morning!!!
As normal before hitting the straw, I applied the additional hab door security, this is our only access to camper interior.
Around 01.30hrs, Bea screams out, there is someone trying to access through our only door (our dog was as good as a chocolate fireguard) and slept through the event.
I got up and switched on external light, nothing to see. My mega led torch through closed window, nothing to see.
I sat for a while, could see nor hear nothing, returned to bed.
Back 02.00hrs, knocking on the camper door, dog barking ( he works when he wants to ) I got up and shouted who is it, reply in English, police, looking through small kitchen window, and outside light still on, I could see the lady officer hand on her pistol, enough credentials for me.
Someone, maybe a nearby parked up trucker saw what was going on and report attempt breaking to police, hence their appearance, which was good. Bea explained her reaction on hearing activity at our door, police stated her scream sent them away, and of course police turning up would help if the perps were still around?
Police stated such crime is rife down the south of France, camping cars, cars, people’s houses. The officers also offered for us to drive and park at their station, further down the motorway, we decided to stay, and had no further issues, nor much sleep.
Anyway, and apologies in advance if the following sounds like telling my grandad how to suck eggs!
If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, irrelevant if you are as tall as Lee
a black Dan in karate, stay in your camper, your safe zone, do not go outside, you do not know how many people are involved trying to access your camper.
In our case the police arrived, I could see they were both in uniform, I still asked for ID before opening our door. To sun up, don’t panic, stay calm. If you have to drive away, try and flatten the perp/s.
Would we stay overnight on a motorway aire again? Yes, this morning was unfortunate, wrong place at the wrong time, no one hurt, apart from a door lock. Although a new Risk Assessment will be drawn up.
Stay safe
Edit: lock is knackered due to the perp trying to pick the lock.
We passed Nice enroute to Grasse, near Cannes a long motorway tailback, three lanes stacked up, and as we were approaching a motorway service aire, we pulled in. A large aire, we headed to the camping car area at Mougins aire. We were the only ones there with a camper. We viewed the logjam still happening on the MW. We decided to stop for the night, which is something we have done often while touring, tired, pull in and sleep with no hassles, until this morning!!!
As normal before hitting the straw, I applied the additional hab door security, this is our only access to camper interior.
Around 01.30hrs, Bea screams out, there is someone trying to access through our only door (our dog was as good as a chocolate fireguard) and slept through the event.
I got up and switched on external light, nothing to see. My mega led torch through closed window, nothing to see.
I sat for a while, could see nor hear nothing, returned to bed.
Back 02.00hrs, knocking on the camper door, dog barking ( he works when he wants to ) I got up and shouted who is it, reply in English, police, looking through small kitchen window, and outside light still on, I could see the lady officer hand on her pistol, enough credentials for me.
Someone, maybe a nearby parked up trucker saw what was going on and report attempt breaking to police, hence their appearance, which was good. Bea explained her reaction on hearing activity at our door, police stated her scream sent them away, and of course police turning up would help if the perps were still around?
Police stated such crime is rife down the south of France, camping cars, cars, people’s houses. The officers also offered for us to drive and park at their station, further down the motorway, we decided to stay, and had no further issues, nor much sleep.
Anyway, and apologies in advance if the following sounds like telling my grandad how to suck eggs!
If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, irrelevant if you are as tall as Lee
a black Dan in karate, stay in your camper, your safe zone, do not go outside, you do not know how many people are involved trying to access your camper.In our case the police arrived, I could see they were both in uniform, I still asked for ID before opening our door. To sun up, don’t panic, stay calm. If you have to drive away, try and flatten the perp/s.
Would we stay overnight on a motorway aire again? Yes, this morning was unfortunate, wrong place at the wrong time, no one hurt, apart from a door lock. Although a new Risk Assessment will be drawn up.
Stay safe
Edit: lock is knackered due to the perp trying to pick the lock.
