Carol and Alan C. live in a quiet neighborhood in Modesto, CA.
One weekend, they had visitors in town who were staying in an RV parked in the driveway.
Around 5 a.m. one morning, an intruder broke into the motorhome through the main door.
The RV was equipped with an alarm system that woke the people in both the motorhome and the house.
Alan C. exited his home and confronted the burglar who was already inside the RV.
Alan told the intruder the police were on the way and not to move.
But, the intruder advanced toward Alan, who was armed with a gun.
Alan fired one shot, striking the intruder in the leg.
According to police, “The preliminary investigation indicates the homeowner acted in self-defense, and at this point, he is not being charged.”
The suspect allegedly acted alone and had randomly picked the RV to break into. He was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
It is estimated that there are around 13,000 RV parks around the U.S.
About 20% of these parks are permanent mobile home parks.
The reality is, like many crimes, crimes targeting RV’s are on the rise as more and more people are turning to live in RVs full time.
Considering this, here are a few factors to remember if you are an RVer, camper, or spend any time enjoying the great outdoors.
Protection from elements.
RV’s, tents, or any type of camper will protect you from Mother Nature.
But, they will do nothing to stop a bullet.
My point is, recreational vehicles aren’t like homes.
The walls are not as thick, which means bullets can easily pass through them and you probably don’t have good, solid wooden furniture that acts as cover.
In the event of a shooting, your best option is to get down on the floor of the RV.
Take cover near the front of the RV where the engine can provide a little safety from flying bullets.
Stay armed.
Many people have guns in their homes for self-defense.
You should do the same thing in your RV if you are legally able to do so.
And you should keep your gun on you at all times.
Because in an RV, there is no time to get to your gun, you will need to confront the threat immediately.
If you’re traveling where having a gun isn’t an option, carry some sort of weapon such as a big blade, tactical pen or stun gun.
Add signs to discourage.
If you are camping or RVing alone you should always make it appear that there are more people.
For instance, you should place extra camping chairs around the campfire or outside your RV for everyone to see.
If a criminal sees 6 camping chairs outside an RV then they might go looking elsewhere.
You can also use other things to discourage bad guys such as a large dog bowl or even a dog bone.
The last thing a bad guy wants is to open the door and get a face full of dog.
Alarm system.
A simple alarm system should be part of your RV.
There are many battery-operated options including video doorbells.
When you set up camp, you can install a game camera to pick up motion at night around your RV.
In addition, you can also use motion-activated lights around your RV and then take them down when you are moving.
Just like at home, you should also put stickers near the door that show you have an alarm system.
Know where you are.
When possible, it is best to set up camp in a location with cell phone service so you can call for help.
But, this won’t do you any good if you cannot provide them an accurate location.
Be sure you are able to provide a good description of where you are camped.
This should include the name of the road, campground, and nearest main road.
Even better, when you get to your location look up the GPS coordinates and save them in case of an emergency.
In most states within the U.S., you have the right to protect your place of residence, which includes RVs.
Be sure to read up on these laws wherever you may be traveling.
And use these tips to keep yourself protected.
Excellent, informative article.
We live in a glamper part of the year and while I follow some of the things mentioned in the article, there were several things I’ll be adding to my list. Thanks!