Guest JudgeMental Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 Saw this over on MHFun thought it worth sharing http://www.french-property.com/news/french_life/france_motorway_gangs/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonB Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 Interesting post Eddie. As a victim a few years ago it's nice to know that the French police are taking on the problem. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porky Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 Unfortunately it seems that when a gang like this is caught it creates a vacuum and another lot very quickly take over. The sad fact is that there are always villains out there who are looking to rob you one way or another. Having said that we are off in two weeks so to hell with them they are not going to spoil my fun. So my view is be optimistic but careful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archiesgrandad Posted November 6, 2009 Share Posted November 6, 2009 I have a problem with anything that is so far removed from my experience, but I may have been lucky. All the same I can't help but ask if the gendarmes found the huge tanker of sleeping gas that is used for motorhomes? AGD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basil Posted November 6, 2009 Share Posted November 6, 2009 Archiesgrandad - 2009-11-06 10:50 AM All the same I can't help but ask if the gendarmes found the huge tanker of sleeping gas that is used for motorhomes? AGD Naughty boy AGD! :-D :-D :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirage Posted November 7, 2009 Share Posted November 7, 2009 We gave up stopping in motorway service stations, lay-bys (aires if you must), if I can afford £40000ish for the van I can afford 13.4e for a Camping Cheque, be safe, sleep well and have a holiday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted November 7, 2009 Share Posted November 7, 2009 Don't mistake proper aires for lay-bys etc, they are not the same. We would never stay on a motorway service station and only once from memory have we ever stayed in a lay-by - the one on the border between Scotland and England. There are some absolutely beautiful aires, in lovely locations, like the one at St Valery en Caux, St Mallery sur Seine (not sure about the spelling there! :D ), even the basic aire at Blaye next to the citadel looking out over the river - wonderful. We much prefer aires, not just because they are cheap/free but because they are near to the towns and villages, or the beach, etc. We don't like being hemmed in on a campsite and like to be able to go out for a potter into the locality with the dogs on an evening, looking at the local village - it is lovely to see it all lit up and it takes on a different character altogether form the daytime. You do it your way, we'll do it ours. :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirage Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 I am not mistaking a Motorway Aire for anything than what it is, a LAY-BY the post specifically refers to Motorways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Pardon me for trying to point out that what one person may think of as an aire is another person's layby! 8-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 Now....now, tut...tut... :-D what may be worth pointing out is that "Aires" as signposted on French autoroutes are just parking spots and are NOT a safe place to overnight in a motorhome. I am more worried regards newcomers here who see the word "Aire" and say come on here is a safe place to stop... You need to have a motorhome Aires (Aire de camping car) book or set of POI in your sat nav to find these. and there are hundreds all over the place and worth the diversion for a relatively safe overnight stop......although you still need to use common sense to access the risk of stopping anywhere *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelling Tyke Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 Hello, Thanks for this. My previous thoughts were that this type of threat was well over played. Now......nothing like a little bit of substance to lodge in the dying brain cells........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basil Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 mirage - 2009-11-07 7:43 PM We gave up stopping in motorway service stations, lay-bys (aires if you must), if I can afford £40000ish for the van I can afford 13.4e for a Camping Cheque, be safe, sleep well and have a holiday! Don't really believe it has to do with what you can afford but more to do with convenience, in the same way as I could afford to waste my money on a lavish holiday hotel but I wouldn't enjoy it. Also many Aires de Camping Car are in much better locations than some sites. We have stopped on Motorway service aires in the past, if needing to get some sleep on route but we would never stop on the picnic areas overnight. You do need to be wise about where you choose and if it doesn't look or feel safe it probably isn't. Bas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Momma Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 French Aires are so popular that you need to arrive early on most to get a space (Probably more so in high season). Therefore we still need Camping Sites to act as an overflow for those unfortunate enough not to get on an Aire :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coachman Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 Having read many comments on this subject it really is a shame that security has to be number one these day's. My wife and i have stopped at many way out of places in the past ie sides of dams ,rivers, forest,and just behind hedges with never a thought about intruders. This has always been on our own, not really being anti social like but stopping when we want .Now its looking either for Aires, camps etc because of all this talk . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 Coachman - 2009-11-11 4:43 PM Having read many comments on this subject it really is a shame that security has to be number one these day's. My wife and i have stopped at many way out of places in the past ie sides of dams ,rivers, forest,and just behind hedges with never a thought about intruders. This has always been on our own, not really being anti social like but stopping when we want .Now its looking either for Aires, camps etc because of all this talk . but style of camping you describe is probably safe and will draw the least attention......Theives like to hide amongst the crowds and pray on the weakest *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Expat Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 Thanks Judgemental. Articles like this are always worth sharing. Forwarned/ forarmed etc, and particularly appropriate for us, as we live down in that part of France. However. having re-read the article a couple of times, it would appear that these particular "Toe-rags" have been targeting Cars rather than Motorhomes. The A9 motorway from Marsailles to Barcelona has had a bad reputation for some years, and the French media love sensationalism as much as in UK. Don't be put off. Just be careful. The small [Pic-nic] Aires are fine......for a lunchtime stop. We have used them overnight, but only in quiet country areas, well away from big cities, preferably with a couple of "Upmarket" H.G.V's for company. If we need to stop-over on a long trip, then we choose one of the bigger Aires with full services, again, preferably not too close to big Cities, and Park up in full view in a well lit place. Better still, wander "Off Piste". Find a nice Restaurant, and eat there...."Where I eats I Sleeps".......or a Proper Aire de Camping Cars, or some other Quiet Corner. Make sure doors and side windows are securely locked, and enjoy the freedom. We've been doing this in France, Spain and Italy for the last 20 years or more, and hope to continue for a few more years yet. Bon Voyage !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Coachman - 2009-11-11 4:43 PM Having read many comments on this subject it really is a shame that security has to be number one these day's. My wife and i have stopped at many way out of places in the past ie sides of dams ,rivers, forest,and just behind hedges with never a thought about intruders. This has always been on our own, not really being anti social like but stopping when we want .Now its looking either for Aires, camps etc because of all this talk . Coachman, don't stop using the places you do, just make sure you are happy there, if in doubt, move off and find somewhere else. We've done what you do for years and have never had any problems with these sorts of places at all. The only 2 times we have had problems was in Boulogne Sur Mer on a car park, where other campers were, and local idiots decided it was good fund to bash on the vans late at night, no damage but a bl**dy nuisance. The other was on an official motorhome aire in Holland where we ended up with bricks through the windows etc ... should've trusted my gut instinct and moved on but didn't as it was our first trip to Holland and there were plenty of other vans there too, we were just targeted for the fun of it by the local yobs, nothing more than that (something the youth there like to do in the early hours of a Sunday morning apparently!). It hasn't stopped us doing what we do though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamworthkamper Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 we ve stopped several times on the french motorways and never had any trouble we always tuck in with the wagons and only the aries with a services like ours the others are normaly pinic areas in the middle of nowhere thats asking for trouble and I guess we are are all guilty at advetising ourselfs with roof boxes bikes etc strapped to our motorhomes We will be doing it again this year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamworthkamper Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 we ve stopped several times on the french motorways and never had any trouble we always tuck in with the wagons and only the aries with a services like ours the others are normaly pinic areas in the middle of nowhere thats asking for trouble and I guess we are are all guilty at advetising ourselfs with roof boxes bikes etc strapped to our motorhomes We will be doing it again this year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 tamworthkamper - 2010-01-01 1:46 AM we ve stopped several times on the french motorways and never had any trouble we always tuck in with the wagons and only the aries with a services like ours the others are normaly pinic areas in the middle of nowhere thats asking for trouble and I guess we are are all guilty at advetising ourselfs with roof boxes bikes etc strapped to our motorhomes We will be doing it again this year these are exactly the places thieves operate in and about.......Thats fine, do what you want, but don't come crying on here afterwards IF you get robbed or relieved of your bikes and your holiday is ruined. In fact do we need more examples :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo3090 Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 I don't think it matters that much where you stop. Yes some places are worse than others but there are instances of people being robbed on campsites as well as aires or town centre car parks all over Europe. As with most things in life if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time it will happen to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 Come on Tomo, 1350 people have looked at this thread. Perceived wisdom is that motorway service stations are not a safe place to overnight. there is far to much evidence of robbery's in these locations. every year I meet people who have been robbed and are shocked that it happened to them. last year on a month trip I meet 4 familys who had been robbed (2 caravans and 2 motorhomes) and you think to yourself do they not read? or investigate if somewhere is safe to overnight? Now of course you can get done anywhere even on a campsite and you always need to be security conscious and Lock van when going to showers etc...... But this threads intention is to warn people of the dangers of stopping overnight on motorways :-S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo3090 Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 I'm not saying these things don't happen "Judge", of course they do. But when you look at the number of people using them compared to the number robbed/assaulted then you do have to be unlucky to be in that unfortunate group. I've wildcamped on places where some on this forum have decried it as a place where monsters live!, left my van unlocked while we went shopping by accident in Torrox. Nothing happened. I've been on a campsite in France, near Ganspede where the V2 site is, that was really nice and most people who stay on sites would feel really secure. It was only when talking to someone just before I left in the morning that the site had been plagued by robberies of bikes, camping equipment and kids toys and now employed a security guard with a rottweiler to patrol at night! I've also been in places in some UK cities that most people think are dangerous/crime hot beds and seen nothing. Yet we were burgled in broad daylight at home and I was only out of the house 25 minutes! A professional by the way. They did no damage, picked the French window security grill lock, removed the video recorder and power lead from the cabinet, didn't so much as knock over a cup, sorted out the correct remote control, swipe the best of Anns' jewellery and left unseen and undetected! A Craftsman at the top of their game. I couldn't do all that in the same time and I live here! I've also been to road accidents where the car was completely totalled and the person didn't have a scratch, and one where there was hardly a mark on the car and someone was killed. So you see that's what I meant by it, wrong place, wrong time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 Tomo3090 - 2010-01-01 5:57 PM I'm not saying these things don't happen "Judge", of course they do. But when you look at the number of people using them compared to the number robbed/assaulted then you do have to be unlucky to be in that unfortunate group. QUOTE] Why put yourself in a position with a proven higher risk then somewhere away from a motorway offers..... this is dangerous talk, people less savy then you may say "ah well not to worry" and get done, like the ones I and othere meet all the time. I really dont se your point the thread is about motorways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 Tomo3090 - 2010-01-01 12:07 PM I don't think it matters that much where you stop. Yes some places are worse than others but there are instances of people being robbed on campsites as well as aires or town centre car parks all over Europe. As with most things in life if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time it will happen to you. Well, Stephen, that is fine for you, because you are making an informed choice for yourself. I don't agree with your stated reasoning, because I think it flies in the face of reason, but it is your decision, and I hope it never lands you in the soup! People undertake risky endeavours for the thrill, always have and doubtless always will and, from time to time, the survivors even emerge as heroes. So, if you liked ice climbing, would you recommend it for everyone on the basis you hadn't yet fallen off with serious consequences, or would you say you do it mainly for the thrill and the challenge, but at the same time advise others it is a high risk sport that may not suit everyone? Having one's van broken into at the beginning of a holiday (which is when most of these robberies tend to take place), and having passports, wallet, cash, credit and debit cards, mobile phone, and possibly laptop, all stolen is not much of a start to what most hope will be a relaxing and rewarding experience. It is a recipe for stress, distress, and sheer misery.Of course it is true that you can be robbed anywhere, but "motorway" services and rest areas, on the major holiday axes through Europe, especially France, in the high season mostly, are well known and recorded as being targeted by mobile gangs of thieves. These areas have a far greater incidence of theft than any other types of overnight stopover. By comparison, it is very unusual to be robbed on French Aires Camping-Cars, or town centre car parks (assuming one is not trying to overnight on them, of which I have no information), and highly unusual to be robbed on proper camp sites.So, if general experience is that the motorway rest/service areas, as above, are riskier than any other type of stopover, what on earth is the point of advising others to ignore that advice? Even the French police, not always renowned for their response to crimes like robbery, have set up specialised units to deal with autoroute robbery, and they strongly advise against using these areas for overnighting.By all means lets just amicably agree to disagree over what you do, but please don't cloud the risks of so doing for others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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