Extra vigilance needed at ferry ports

[colintfcolintf]

Came back from Le Mans this week on the overnight Caen to Portsmouth ferry. Arrived at port early so held in the waiting area before checking in. It’s not very large so Cali and Trailer were parked quite close to the road / pavement.
In 20 or so years I’ve seen all sorts here, people climbing onto and trying to get into moving vans / lorries / trailers etc, especially by roundabouts and speed bumps.
I decided to wait at the back of the trailer with everything locked while the Missus had a walkabout.
2 shifty looking characters soon caught my attention as the walked past for the third time and appeared to be looking in my / trailer direction. If you could read my facial expression / my body language they would of got the message (there’s an occasional advantage of being 6” and 14.5 stone, especially as they were about 5” and 10 stone max each! Anyway they kept walking past and I stayed put.
Nearby, very very close, if a car park which is free for 2 hours and often used by those waiting for the ferry’s to go and get food etc.
Fast forward an hour or so and they opened up the checking and we proceeded to the next holding area which is passports / customs / security.
About an hour later, there was some commotion about 3 vehicles ahead. The vehicles occupants had obviously found an “illegal” hiding in the back of their car. My missus then saw another getting out of the boot of the same vehicle.
The two “illegals” then came into my view and were already surrounded by port security. Yep, you guessed it, the same two that were eying up my trailer.
No doubt they’ve tried before and have already tried again already I guess. These are desperate people who will try anything.
Please take extra care at these ports, and roads leading to the ports. Please don’t leave your vehicles unlocked and / or unnatended, and don’t stop enroute for anything when close to approaching the ports. I could see a strap flapping that I had tied around the trailer doors, but I wasn’t stopping for anyone - I even timed traffic lights perfectly to keep on the move luckily!
Transpires the couple who’s car it was they tried to hide in had used the free car park and gone to find a meal. They don’t know how they got in, but somehow they did
Take extra care out there please guys!!

 

[colintfcolintf]

I’ve never felt uneasy at Hoek van Holland
I’ve seen some sights approaching Le Tunnel from Belgium, but generally once within the Le Shuttle premises your probably ok.
Would I use CAEN again - yes, but I would think twice if I was towing the enclosed car trailer with PVC sides. Caen seems a bit of a hotspot for these activities in my experience (20 years or so)

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Dieppe / Newhaven seems a safer bet, never had an issue there; We normally arrive at Dieppe early, park on the seafront, go for a meal in one of the nice restaurants and then get on the ferry….but no trailer / hiding places!

Van also gets searched by customs at the gate, although surfboard bags never checked & boot not opened if stacked with bikes (found if you ask politely if they want it open, they will say no need; but have seen people get stroppy..and be made to take all the bikes off to check - great ‘people watching’)

You see a lot of groups on the beach with large tables, suitcases usually preparing / eating meals, but road to the port is very open so tricky to hide. Van has never been broken into (famous last words) which was my biggest fear as would spoil a great holiday at the final stage!

 

[Wish]

Came back from Le Mans this week on the overnight Caen to Portsmouth ferry. Arrived at port early so held in the waiting area before checking in. It’s not very large so Cali and Trailer were parked quite close to the road / pavement.
In 20 or so years I’ve seen all sorts here, people climbing onto and trying to get into moving vans / lorries / trailers etc, especially by roundabouts and speed bumps.
I decided to wait at the back of the trailer with everything locked while the Missus had a walkabout.
2 shifty looking characters soon caught my attention as the walked past for the third time and appeared to be looking in my / trailer direction. If you could read my facial expression / my body language they would of got the message (there’s an occasional advantage of being 6” and 14.5 stone, especially as they were about 5” and 10 stone max each! Anyway they kept walking past and I stayed put.
Nearby, very very close, if a car park which is free for 2 hours and often used by those waiting for the ferry’s to go and get food etc.
Fast forward an hour or so and they opened up the checking and we proceeded to the next holding area which is passports / customs / security.
About an hour later, there was some commotion about 3 vehicles ahead. The vehicles occupants had obviously found an “illegal” hiding in the back of their car. My missus then saw another getting out of the boot of the same vehicle.
The two “illegals” then came into my view and were already surrounded by port security. Yep, you guessed it, the same two that were eying up my trailer.
No doubt they’ve tried before and have already tried again already I guess. These are desperate people who will try anything.
Please take extra care at these ports, and roads leading to the ports. Please don’t leave your vehicles unlocked and / or unnatended, and don’t stop enroute for anything when close to approaching the ports. I could see a strap flapping that I had tied around the trailer doors, but I wasn’t stopping for anyone - I even timed traffic lights perfectly to keep on the move luckily!
Transpires the couple who’s car it was they tried to hide in had used the free car park and gone to find a meal. They don’t know how they got in, but somehow they did
Take extra care out there please guys!!

Used the "glass fronted" restaurant (opposite the car park) many times