I Hate A Thief, Especially An RVer That Steals!

[FL-JOE]

We are currently in a Park District CG. Their charter say that they have to maintain their facilities to break even each fiscal year, in other words they can't make a profit. Therefore costs are pretty inexpensive for this CG and all of their other parks in the area.

Last night 2 guys on Harleys (PA plates) came in after the office was closed and used one of the tent sites ($8 site). Then at 7am they packed up and left. An RV site across from me ($24 site) was filled by a old Class C with California plates sometime after midnight. This morning at 6:30 I watched as they dumped, made a huge mess, and left. Both of these overnight campers failed to pay. I'm pretty sure the guys on the motorcycles are heading to Sturgis, not sure about the three adult women in the Class C.

You would think that as cheap as these sites are it would not be a huge deal to pay the fee.

 

[Neal]

I've seen this in other locations with a Class B. I watched one change sites 3 times around New Years in the freezing cold at Lake Powell. They were min staffed and no one monitoring the CG. I was the only one there for several days (did I mention below freezing??). I think it's a game for some to see what they can get away with for free. I bet CG's would say this is common.

 

[Jim]

I agree. Nothing lower than a thief.

 

[Old Bubblehead]

Well, maybe a thief that doesn't pick up after their dogs!

People wonder why CG's get long lists of rules, or costs go up to cover damage and additional security. The few always screw the many.

I'm old school, a thief on a ship/ boat is the lowest form of life. The crew will usually self police, but it never ends up well for the offender. I might send photos of tags of offending RV to CG/ authorities for theft of services if I see this happen.

 

[FL-JOE]

Going to make a disclaimer starting off, this is not a political statement so I'm hoping no one takes it that way.......but...

I posted about this incident on a Harley forum site. A gentlemen from CA responded with a post and said he and a buddy snuck in and used a site without paying once and a Park Ranger told them to make sure they were gone before he got back in the morning. I couldn't help myself and responded by saying it was still a crime in most parts of the U.S. to steal services of another, or to shoplift.

I'm just wondering if California allowing everyone to steal up to $950 dollars each time they enter a store is making their residents think they can take what they want while traveling?

 

[redbaron]

There are a lot of California residents here at Glacier. I have yet to meet one that agrees with their governor or the socialism leaning views. They do often have some very foul language in regards to their governor.

Take away is don't judge a person from their license plate, good people are from all over.

 

[FL-JOE]

I can't say I won't initially keep an eye on a fellow California camper a little closer than say for example one from Montana. I'm sure there are millions of California residents who are ashamed of what is going on. Weather and retirement isn't the only issue which is making thousands move to Florida each and every week from California, New York, and Illinois.

We can have a discussion about these stupid laws in California without being political. I'm sure if you manage a CVS or Walgreens in one of their big cities you don't see red or blue, you only see a dumb law putting you out of a job and closing your store.

No Red, any California resident who is a decent person is always welcome at my campsite. I would never consider traveling to that State again under any circumstances though.

 

[Amigobaja]

The last twenty five years I have rode my bike and tent camped in all lower 48, huge areas of canada to the artic circle and thru central america to the panama canal. My daily routine is to start riding when i get up generally around 6am until a little before dark. Often the campgrounds offices are closed with no set up for after hours payment procedures. When possible we would pay online and when that wasnt possible we would try to leave the money with a fellow camper. Sometimes we just could not find a way to pay so i never felt like i was stealing from people that dont care enough about running there business properly and convenient for thier customers.

 

[FL-JOE]

Okay, so let me get this straight. If the "business" decides not to have an employee on duty 24/7 and they don't set up some type of drop box for easy payment, then shame on them and folks should just take what they want?

How about when you stop at that small country fruit stand at 7pm and no one is around, just covered product ready for the next day and no honor pay box. Do you just grab what you need and head out because the farmer was inconsiderate and didn't have a family member sitting there 24/7?

IMHO if you pull into a "closed" campground and there is no way to pay for a site after hours then you go on down the road. If you decide to stay and not pay then you sir are a thief plane and simple.

 

[redbaron]

Reminds me of jury duty I was called for, but rejected by defense counsel. I was number 3 of 75, and guaranteed to be seated unless one of the attorneys used their linited supply of rejects.

The premise was a person found "abandoned" property and claimed it as their own. The items where never disclosed to us during jury selection, but we where told that the property was found on land not owned by the defendant.

We where asked if we believed in the principal of abandoned property and could find a person clear of wrong doing. I said no, plain and simple.

The defense lawyer made a mistake and questioned me publicly as to why. I said that as a child I was taught that no matter what the property value is, even a penny, if it's not yours...then it's not yours. Leave it where it was, or take to its owner or law enforcement as situation dictates.

I was dismissed, and several others raised their hands saying they agreed with me, and got dismissed too.

I am in the service industry, and have had my services stolen. That is just as bad as stealing my car, and should be punished the same.

I grew up with honor system snacks, firewood, ice, etc. We should be in a place where those things are still possible.

There is never an excuse to skip out on a meal check, hotel stay, campground stay, etc. Never.