Thefts at Le Mans

[mickyfix]

2 x e scooters lifted (cut through locks) last night 2’ from person sleeping.

Others have had tents slashed, cash lifted. These just our neighbours plus us.

Having a search on line seems common event we’ve been coming 10 odd years not even thought or heard about thefts.

Lot of money spent by campers here in Blu Nord, posh people in well to do areas whip together a few quid to employ people to sit in cars.

Why doesn’t Le Mans do the same? A nice walking patrol through the night would be a good start. 2-3 person with dogs?

If enough people complained - we have forgotten how to complain (WAKE UP PEOPLE!) then maybe something might happen. 💁🏻‍♂️

[ch37]

I'm sure even the secured areas aren't immune, but from my experience so far the Lycian site is excellent (which may go some way to explaining the millions of pounds worth of cars...and my Swift Sport).

Fully fenced, security on the gate via a pass entry system and regular foot patrols around the perimeter. Tucked away from most yet 30 seconds (literally) from one of the best free views at the circuit at Porsche Curves.

It's my first time here but I can't see me ever doing it another way. You presumably lose the absolutely bonkers nature of the rest of the site, but it's difficult to retain a sense of that and be safe/secure, and to be honest as I'm on my own I don't mind that at all, even possible to get a good night's sleep.

[delta0]

I always go for a secure site but it is also good to make sure valuables are stored in the car especially when you are away from the site.

[49neil]

ch37 said:

I'm sure even the secured areas aren't immune, but from my experience so far the Lycian site is excellent (which may go some way to explaining the millions of pounds worth of cars...and my Swift Sport).

Fully fenced, security on the gate via a pass entry system and regular foot patrols around the perimeter. Tucked away from most yet 30 seconds (literally) from one of the best free views at the circuit at Porsche Curves.

It's my first time here but I can't see me ever doing it another way. You presumably lose the absolutely bonkers nature of the rest of the site, but it's difficult to retain a sense of that and be safe/secure, and to be honest as I'm on my own I don't mind that at all, even possible to get a good night's sleep.

Travel Destinations the other side of PC is very similar. Secure & safe

Though why you'd leave cash in tents when there are locked cars feet away.....?

[lowdrag]

I put up a warning usually but did so on FB this year. If you aren't putting stuff in your car then at least empty your pockets and put it in the bottom of your sleeping bag. Slashed tents are well known.

[rjpreston]

We found 2 rucksacks Stolen out of tents ransacked and abandoned in Tertre Rouge campsite earlier this morning. Both still contained ID (one was a Danish Police ID card!!!) so we were able to reunite them with their grateful owners.

Cash but not cards was taken from one and a pair of Bose headphones nicked from the other. Scum.

[cn7k7]

Sadly theft is not a new phenomena to Le Mans…or anywhere with valuables

This is my 40th anniversary of attendance and through that time have been lucky enough to have not been a victim and I mostly stay in a circuit site. I do however ensure I only take what I need with me and lock anything in the car when not there….I repeat I may have just been lucky

Sadly these scumbags target Brits but I would also note the behaviour of some Brits this year was quite disturbing, we do not have the right to do what we like to whomever just because we are in France. This element of race goer is as unwelcome as the thieving….let’s hope we can get rid of both

[lowdrag]

A few years back a load of gear, including a generator, vanished on Bleu. Some people got curious about one tent that always seemed to be closed and had a French Clio outside. Once they looked in they found most of the missing gear and called the BiB, who arrested the thieves and took all the stolen stuff to the Gendarmerie. Justice served, but it was strange that the Clio turned over and caught fire on its own. And even curiouser when the police found out that the Clio had been stolen.

The other even was at "Aux Portes du Circuit" where friends had secured camping for the event. During the night one person still awake heard the ripping sound of the tent being slashed, shouted to alrm others and jumped out of the tent. The p1keys were chased and brought down, causing injuries. When the BiB arrived they said they didn't believe a word the p1keys had said and that their injuries must have been caused by falling down when chased.

But, this is a common event, thefts from tents, and using agencies like 1st Tickets and Team Langoustine - and others - will substantially allow you to sleep in peace.

[NoBrakesWC]

Our first year at le mans and loved. Was on Blu Nord. had our cool box stolen which was very annoying but I knew it was something that could happen. We think we know who it was as someone followed them around and saw them taking stuff. All the campers are really nice all look out for each other.

[maccas99]

Didn't attend this year but when we do it's always at the Lycian site for security and peace of mind. It's also a great location as others have said plus you have the option to get fully catered etc. Looking to go next year for my 50th!

[Truckosaurus]

Bleu Nord is probably the worst site for thefts, we had our coolboxes taken the one year we were there.

All the other sites are much more fenced off so require a higher level of chutzpah from the light fingered types to enter past the security guys

[delta0]

Truckosaurus said:

Bleu Nord is probably the worst site for thefts, we had our coolboxes taken the one year we were there.

All the other sites are much more fenced off so require a higher level of chutzpah from the light fingered types to enter past the security guys

I assume from the public site rather than the private ones?

[vincegail]

rjpreston said:

We found 2 rucksacks Stolen out of tents ransacked and abandoned in Tertre Rouge campsite earlier this morning. Both still contained ID (one was a Danish Police ID card!!!) so we were able to reunite them with their grateful owners.

Cash but not cards was taken from one and a pair of Bose headphones nicked from the other. Scum.

There goes my idea that Tertre Rouge is a safe haven. You must go to a lot of trouble to get a ticket for Tertre Rouge and everybody knows everybody. How did this happen?

[fatboy18]

vincegail said:

rjpreston said:

We found 2 rucksacks Stolen out of tents ransacked and abandoned in Tertre Rouge campsite earlier this morning. Both still contained ID (one was a Danish Police ID card!!!) so we were able to reunite them with their grateful owners.

Cash but not cards was taken from one and a pair of Bose headphones nicked from the other. Scum.

There goes my idea that Tertre Rouge is a safe haven. You must go to a lot of trouble to get a ticket for Tertre Rouge and everybody knows everybody. How did this happen?

I think this can happen after the race ends and most people are leaving, Sunday night security seems to switch off and a certain type of person ends up going through the camp sites.

[Shnozz]

ch37 said:

I'm sure even the secured areas aren't immune, but from my experience so far the Lycian site is excellent (which may go some way to explaining the millions of pounds worth of cars...and my Swift Sport)..

Just had a quick look and prices seem extremely reasonable given what you say?

[Gulfbike]

My bike had 2 attempted thefts during the course of the weekend, once in hour annex where we were camping (tried to cut cable) second I left it locked to the fence in houx and the jammed a screwdriver into the lock and I couldn’t undo it. It wasn’t coming back with me anyway, just a old bike that I sprayed up for fun. I just wanted to leave it in a more fitting place

[ch37]

Shnozz said:

Just had a quick look and prices seem extremely reasonable given what you say?

Yes I thought so too, you can even add a meal package to make it fully 'all inclusive'. I don't have my own tent and it was £90 to have a pitch with a fully assembled tent and airbed on arrival, which again I thought was very reasonable.

As mentioned it would be impossible for any site to be completely risk free, but from what I could see it was among very few that had genuinely decent security measures in place. Even though I knew the security guys by the Saturday you had to show your pass every single time, no exceptions. Another person would walk the fully fenced perimeter fairly frequently and would query anything unusual, even a car parked in on odd place.

[Gregmitchell]

Shnozz said:

ch37 said:

I'm sure even the secured areas aren't immune, but from my experience so far the Lycian site is excellent (which may go some way to explaining the millions of pounds worth of cars...and my Swift Sport)..

Just had a quick look and prices seem extremely reasonable given what you say?

We just returned from there, took two Porsche’s and a Ferrari, place was full of similar cars. Always two security on the gate, cold beer, cooked breakfast, beer and pizza until 2am. Mini bus in to karting or tram stop and back until midnight. Felt totally secure there and the staff are great, had a brilliant time, just booked for next year too!

[surveyor]

We had a very minor theft on BSJ, where 'Lolita' was stolen.

We found her on Monday, when putting out a fire that some dheads with a Black X5 had started by emptying hot coals onto dry grass.

There was no value, but pretty pissed off that a group who had never even spoken to us, decided it was acceptable to carry out an overnight raid on our camp.

[//j17]

fatboy18 said:

I think this can happen after the race ends and most people are leaving, Sunday night security seems to switch off and a certain type of person ends up going through the camp sites.

You've made the common mistake of thinking the staff on the campsite entry gates are 'security' who's job is to protect the campers and their property. They aren't, they are ticket inspectors who's job is to stop people who haven't paid for a camping pitch getting into the campsite for free. As part of that they don't care who walks in on foot (well unless you're carrying a tent/camping stuff) at any point or who drives in on a Sunday, after the event.

Thankfully the only thing we lost in our group was the really nice dinner we'd just had in town on Friday, after the driver's parade. Can't really say that was stolen though, he just suddenly went white and did his best Mr Oates' "I'm going outside, I may be some time.".

This was my 19th Le Mans, going both solo and in groups of different sizes and we've only ever had minor issues and I think that's the case for the vast majority of people who go - I mean who's going to start or read a "I went to Le Mans and didn't have anything stolen" thread? At the end of the day you're in a crown of 240,000 people and if only 0.1% of them are less than honest that's 240 people seeing an empty campsite of expensive cars and wondering what else might be laying around.