Terrible tale in the reviews of Edinburgh site
I was going to write a review of our stay in Edinburgh last week when I noticed the review left by MarkR1 here. Sadly MarkR1 had his car stolen from his pitch with the thieves getting the car fob from the caravan!
I hope all turned out OK Mark if you're reading this, but I've never heard of this happening on a club site before and a warning to us all. I've certainly left the car keys close to the door in the van and even in the awning at times during the day and we don't lock the van up going to shower block, perhaps we should?.
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If I read the review correctly it would appear that the caravan was not secured at night which allowed the fob to be stolen or have I got that wrong?
David
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Yes I think so David.
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Whilst sorry for the victim, reading between the lines the caravan wasn't locked. It is not uncommon to target homes with desirable cars (tracking device indicates that), as cars are difficult to steal now they steal the keys/fobs. Insurers have warned of this for several years: lock your home doors and hide car keys. As an Edinburgher I feel bad about this incident, but the site is near an area with lots of neds and smack heads. Recent trouble with bikers at night. Do be careful.
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My main concern is that tea leaves are now getting hold of electronic devices that can 'read' the radio signal off your fob in doors. Apparently they no longer need the actual fob in order to convince the car to switch off the locks and get the car away.
Is there some sort of foil lined box to store the fobs in that would prevent the capture of the radio signal?
My X-trail currently reads an electronic radio signal from the fob to allow me to start the vehicle. It merely has to be within say 5 feet and then be in my pocket. there is no physical key to turn (except in emergency when the fob battery is run down.)
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I saw a solution to this problem in the Times a while ago. I've got a small tin which just takes the key fobs ( don't forget the spare) I lined the tin and the lid with kitchen foil and always keep the keys in the tin when they're not being used. My oldest GS was sceptical until I showed him that it actually works.
I too have the keyless entry Xtrail and the key has to be within 80 cm of the door, 5 feet is far too far away.
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thanks for all the replies, yes it's a great site and we were mainly off site and travelled east, west, and north in to Fife, all of it excellent (well except Kirkcaldy sorry if you live there).
As I said the site is immaculate and very handy for the city but the surrounding area to the right as you come out of the site is 'interesting'. I went for a walk round those flats before the OH was up one morning, and while I did feel not exactly uncomfortable but I did feel 'out of place'? The site has bike lockers at the entrance as there has been theft of bikes from the site privoiusly
But to the left is the beach with a good cafe and walk, and Cramond is lovely. I would certainly go back.
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It is a nice site Cornersteady, but like all sites, it's sensible not to leave vehicles and vans unlocked or leave important possessions lying around. It doesn't mean the locals are on the prowl, often the culprits will be from further away and be quite organised in their efforts.
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Edinburgh is a site we have used in the past without problems, but we would never leave the van unlocked, day or night, on any site, if at least one of us was not actually on the pitch. Certainly would not leave it unlocked if we were both away for a shower, and it is always locked when we go to bed.
After all, most of us would not leave our house doors unlocked overnight, and when on holiday the van is our "house".
Very surprised to hear that anyone would leave their car keys in the awning at all, if the car was stolen the insurers would take a pretty dim view of that too!
We have a little cubby-hole in the van, where we usually keep the keys, not near the door, if they are not in it then they are in my pocket and/or in OH's bag, which is also kept well away from the door. We keep a set each.
When we go out for the day, the spare van keys and spare car keys go with us, as does anything valuable, either in my rucksack or locked in the car, the car is more secure than the caravan.
People up the street from us had both their cars stolen off their drive one night. They had always left the car keys on a shelf in full view of the front door, presumably someone had noticed this.
Entry was gained via a patio door, which I suspect had not been properly secured as there was no damage, the keys taken and the cars driven off never to be seen again.
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