Take care at all the ferry ports
Morning all
I have recevied the following information from two members who recently returned from Ouistreham:
Attempted stowaway from Caen / Ouistreham
Booked on the 2300 Brittany Ferries departure, we parked our Motorhome in the large open well lit car park in front of Ouistreham port and at 1830 went to dinner at one of the many restaurants 30 yards away.
The area was busy with locals and travellers and it felt safe to leave our home parked there.
On return to the van an hour or so later, to our shock and horror, we stepped inside and found that there was a man inside, crouching and attempting to conceal his presence. He was an illegal immigrant in France, attempting to stowaway in our Motorhome on the ferry to England.
Before I saw him, I noticed as I opened the habitation door that the toilet door was ajar and I believe that he had been trying to hide in there but as we were returning from a long trip, the shower was stacked out with gear and there wasn't space.
Had we returned a couple of minutes later, he would probably have been successfully concealed in the overcab behind bed rolls.
He clearly hadn't been in there very long and we disturbed him by opening up with the central locking which activates internal lights.
He had entered by forcing a rear window with a screwdriver after melting the rubber seal with a cigarette lighter.
He'd then cut the mosquito net blind and pulled down the inner blind.
He was therefore carrying a screwdriver and a knife. The mosquito net is a very clean cut.
We ordered him out and he was submissive, peaceful and contrite but he fled as we concentrated on raising the alarm and looking for other hideaways. Fortunately he was acting alone. We telephoned the police who attended swiftly and were most helpful in taking our statements quickly so that we didn't miss our ferry.
Whilst I was at the police station giving a statement, the guy was brought in. The police had found him hiding under the stalls in the fish market, and I was able to identify him.
The local police told us that it was unusual for them to target a Motorhome, it's more common to try to hide in the lorries.
We had deliberately used the Caen route to avoid problems in Calais, so we want other members to be aware of this trend in Caen. It was very scary to walk in to our home and find him in there. We will never leave our home unattended anywhere near any ferry port again, no matter how well lit or populated the area.