Thieves at Le Mans - BE CAREFUL
Discussion
Last year there was a lot of trouble with Pikey type
characters traipsing round the campsites stealing
anything they could get there hands on. One of my
mates had a digital camera stolen from his tent at
night and we went to the municipal police station in
Le Mans to report the crime for insurance purposes.
The place was packed to the rafters with annoyed
brits who were in the same boat (Sunday morning - ring
any bells campers?).
If you see ANYONE walking around the camp site that
doesn't look like they belong, do not assume that they
are lost, do not assume they're looking at all the
flash cars, assume that they're going to steal all
your gear.
What to look out for: non brits either alone or in a
gang taking an off the main path route through the
camp site, most likely after dark. At least one of them will have a rucksack.
One tactic we spotted last year was that a gang of 14-18 yr olds had a small kid with them whose job was to carry the booty in a rucksack. I don't know how it works in France but in the UK the younger kid would
be below the age of criminal responsibility.
What do you do about it: don't muck about, this is not the uk. If you act all "british" you'll just get
turned over. The thing to do is to get a gang of you and surround them. Ask to see their admission tickets. We searched one blokes rucksack and because he was "going to a party" he had 4 half full bottles of spirits and two cameras. How well prepared. We photographed his face and handed matey over to the people on the gate (Houx) who took the whole matter refreshingly seriously.
When we spotted two blokes dodging through the shadows one evening we reported them and they sent
in two car loads of security people backed up by
people on foot, motorcycles and bicycles. Quite
impressive really.
Prevention is better than cure so lock up your valuables in the car boot rather than leaving it to
chance in your tent.
Good luck.
characters traipsing round the campsites stealing
anything they could get there hands on. One of my
mates had a digital camera stolen from his tent at
night and we went to the municipal police station in
Le Mans to report the crime for insurance purposes.
The place was packed to the rafters with annoyed
brits who were in the same boat (Sunday morning - ring
any bells campers?).
If you see ANYONE walking around the camp site that
doesn't look like they belong, do not assume that they
are lost, do not assume they're looking at all the
flash cars, assume that they're going to steal all
your gear.
What to look out for: non brits either alone or in a
gang taking an off the main path route through the
camp site, most likely after dark. At least one of them will have a rucksack.
One tactic we spotted last year was that a gang of 14-18 yr olds had a small kid with them whose job was to carry the booty in a rucksack. I don't know how it works in France but in the UK the younger kid would
be below the age of criminal responsibility.
What do you do about it: don't muck about, this is not the uk. If you act all "british" you'll just get
turned over. The thing to do is to get a gang of you and surround them. Ask to see their admission tickets. We searched one blokes rucksack and because he was "going to a party" he had 4 half full bottles of spirits and two cameras. How well prepared. We photographed his face and handed matey over to the people on the gate (Houx) who took the whole matter refreshingly seriously.
When we spotted two blokes dodging through the shadows one evening we reported them and they sent
in two car loads of security people backed up by
people on foot, motorcycles and bicycles. Quite
impressive really.
Prevention is better than cure so lock up your valuables in the car boot rather than leaving it to
chance in your tent.
Good luck.
Couldn't agree more - wen't "on the cheap" one year and camped unofficially. I kept my bag with me, but my mate lost his. By the time we got back after the race, even the tent had gone.
Even in official camping, we've had bags and suitcases ransacked and nicked (although on that occaion we got everything back). Always, always, always lock valuables in the car.
Good to hear the officials take action though!
Even in official camping, we've had bags and suitcases ransacked and nicked (although on that occaion we got everything back). Always, always, always lock valuables in the car.
Good to hear the officials take action though!
NormanD said:Christ, I'd heard of them nicking stuff when you're not there before, but nothing as direct as this.
Another thing to do is DON'T let your pass holders stay outside your shirt blowing in the breeze. Someone will come up to you and cut if off. Keep it tucked inside out of sight and range.
Will keep my eyes peeled this year
NormanD said:
Another thing to do is DON'T let your pass holders stay outside your shirt blowing in the breeze. Someone will come up to you and cut if off. Keep it tucked inside out of sight and range.
Best thing to do is behave like one of them :-
- Barge into people and give them filthy looks,
- Stop and admire any attractive women as she walks past
- March around like you own the place.
- Stink like an old polecat
- take a piss against any wall / tree regardless of how many people are around.
The tea-leaf pond-life will then thing you are one of theirs and leave you alone.
Must admit though with all the years that I have been to Le Mans I remain astonished at how little trouble we ever see.
Apart from Cars, Wallets, Passports and cold beers we don't take anything that we would be gutted if it got nicked. That way we enjoy the racing, beer etc that little bit more.
Richard
richardthestag said:
- Barge into people and give them filthy looks,
- Stop and admire any attractive women as she walks past
- March around like you own the place.
- Stink like an old polecat
- take a piss against any wall / tree regardless of how many people are around.
Aprt from the first one, isn't that what everyone ends up doing for most of the weekend anyway????
DJFish said:
- Barge into people and give them filthy looks,
- Stop and admire any attractive women as she walks past
- March around like you own the place.
- Stink like an old polecat
- take a piss against any wall / tree regardless of how many people are around.
Aprt from the first one, isn't that what everyone ends up doing for most of the weekend anyway????
Bugger, sorry about that, you must have bumped in to me at 4am Sunday morning!
richardthestag said:
[quote=NormanD]Must admit though with all the years that I have been to Le Mans I remain astonished at how little trouble we ever see.
The only remotely negative thing which happened to us was some twit making a fuss that we pushed in on the shotgun 'stall'. So I'm there, holding a loaded pump-action shotgun, at 1am, very drunk and some chap decides to have a verbal...
I laughed and let him go first
I think it depends which campsite you're on - Bleu seemed to be much more popular with the pykies than maison blanche or the in-field sites - most likely because its easier to make a getaway quickly from Bleu. God knows what BSJ is like!
Mind you, some of those dark shinned Pykie girls are tres fit -that is until they get a bit older and turn in jabba the hut.!
Mind you, some of those dark shinned Pykie girls are tres fit -that is until they get a bit older and turn in jabba the hut.!
raceboy said:
Don't forget to leave out the special 'homebrew' if you finish off a bottle of whisky during the weekend, it's considered fair game to 'refill' the bottle as a special afterdinner treat for the Monday Morning Pikies 
Never thought of that.
We normally float an unwrapped lion bar in the beer pool to deter stubbie thiefs
Watch out for any more that "mysteriously" appear overnight though
the thieving happens EVERYWHERE
Our campsite got turned over last year during the race and we were miles down south. this time is was pikey women.
All our valuables were stowed, so they nicked (some of) our clothes!!!
if you see any grubby looking beyatches with flowing skirts, keep a close eye on them and look out for my £10 shirt from Mr Byrite!!
Our campsite got turned over last year during the race and we were miles down south. this time is was pikey women.
All our valuables were stowed, so they nicked (some of) our clothes!!!
if you see any grubby looking beyatches with flowing skirts, keep a close eye on them and look out for my £10 shirt from Mr Byrite!!
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