Petty theft from cars in Provence and Dordogne
Mar 25th, 2011, 08:51 AM
#22
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>>Don't leave stuff in the car<<
Which implies that you should drive from hotel to hotel and not visit anything along the way. So NO STOPPING at Pech Merle, Rocamadour, Gouffre de Padirac, Carennac, Martel, Castelnau, Loubressac, Autoire, Carassonne, Pont du Gard, Les Baux, and Uzes. That is not the way I would choose to explore Provence and the Dordogne. Just keep what you can out of sight & back the car up against a tree, rock, wall, lightpost, or anything else that would hinder a thief.
Personally, I feel safer with my bags secured in the trunk of my rental car, than in a perhaps not-too-secure storage room at a hotel if I arrive before I have access to my room.
Stu Dudley
Which implies that you should drive from hotel to hotel and not visit anything along the way. So NO STOPPING at Pech Merle, Rocamadour, Gouffre de Padirac, Carennac, Martel, Castelnau, Loubressac, Autoire, Carassonne, Pont du Gard, Les Baux, and Uzes. That is not the way I would choose to explore Provence and the Dordogne. Just keep what you can out of sight & back the car up against a tree, rock, wall, lightpost, or anything else that would hinder a thief.
Personally, I feel safer with my bags secured in the trunk of my rental car, than in a perhaps not-too-secure storage room at a hotel if I arrive before I have access to my room.
Stu Dudley
Mar 25th, 2011, 10:30 AM
#25
When touring during the day with baggage in the car, I think I do the same as anybody else would do in the same "predicament" -- I park in the place with the greatest traffic (foot or vehicle) so that nobody can examine the car unnoticed.
At motels in the provinces, I bring in all the real baggage but leave all of the groceries from the hypermarket in the trunk. If I run out of wine or chips, I go back out to get them.
At motels in the provinces, I bring in all the real baggage but leave all of the groceries from the hypermarket in the trunk. If I run out of wine or chips, I go back out to get them.
Mar 25th, 2011, 12:09 PM
#26
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'Hire cars are invariably matriculated with departement numbers 60 or 76..........so car thieves can spot a hire car a mile off. Don't leave stuff in the car.'
Well, they are not in the Dordogne. I currently have a rental car parked in our driveway with a '40' registration. My understanding is that some years ago there were one or two departments which had cheaper road tax registration, and so the rental car companies liked to have their 'notional' headquarters there. This was made illegal, and later the road tax was eliminated. Now the department of origin is not even shown on the new license plates. People get to choose which one they want.
All this to say that it is not SO easy for someone to identify your car as a rental if it doesn't have agency advertising. (we were recently in Australia and were amazed to find some rental cars covered in advertising. We figured someone should pay us to drive one)
We never leave baguettes or even local newspapers in our car, even though we live here. We do exercise some caution, mainly because we lived for a long time in a major Canadian city. But we have neighbours who leave their doors open when they go shopping, and the police have campaigns to convince people to lock their cars when they leave them.
Exercise normal caution and have a good time.
Well, they are not in the Dordogne. I currently have a rental car parked in our driveway with a '40' registration. My understanding is that some years ago there were one or two departments which had cheaper road tax registration, and so the rental car companies liked to have their 'notional' headquarters there. This was made illegal, and later the road tax was eliminated. Now the department of origin is not even shown on the new license plates. People get to choose which one they want.
All this to say that it is not SO easy for someone to identify your car as a rental if it doesn't have agency advertising. (we were recently in Australia and were amazed to find some rental cars covered in advertising. We figured someone should pay us to drive one)
We never leave baguettes or even local newspapers in our car, even though we live here. We do exercise some caution, mainly because we lived for a long time in a major Canadian city. But we have neighbours who leave their doors open when they go shopping, and the police have campaigns to convince people to lock their cars when they leave them.
Exercise normal caution and have a good time.
Mar 28th, 2011, 07:13 AM
#27
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"Carlux said Well, they are not in the Dordogne. I currently have a rental car parked in our driveway with a '40' registration."
I said invariably. Out of around 100 hire cars in our car park for the past year I would estimate that more than 95% were showing 60 or 76 number plates. Could you point me to the legislation making this practice illegal ? I cannot find it !
You also said "Now the department of origin is not even shown on the new license plates." You should look more closely, it is just a little different but the dept number is still there.
For S Dud and "don't leave stuff in the car" well you wouldn't Stud because as you suggest " One HUGE piece of advice I can pass on to you if you love travel & adventure like we do, is to SLOW DOWN and spend a minimum of 2 weeks in ONE SPOT" so your bags would be at "home" n'auraient-ils pas ??
W
I said invariably. Out of around 100 hire cars in our car park for the past year I would estimate that more than 95% were showing 60 or 76 number plates. Could you point me to the legislation making this practice illegal ? I cannot find it !
You also said "Now the department of origin is not even shown on the new license plates." You should look more closely, it is just a little different but the dept number is still there.
For S Dud and "don't leave stuff in the car" well you wouldn't Stud because as you suggest " One HUGE piece of advice I can pass on to you if you love travel & adventure like we do, is to SLOW DOWN and spend a minimum of 2 weeks in ONE SPOT" so your bags would be at "home" n'auraient-ils pas ??
W
Mar 28th, 2011, 09:29 AM
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>>For S Dud and "don't leave stuff in the car" well you wouldn't Stud because as you suggest " One HUGE piece of advice I can pass on to you if you love travel & adventure like we do, is to SLOW DOWN and spend a minimum of 2 weeks in ONE SPOT" so your bags would be at "home" n'auraient-ils pas ??<<
Typically, we have to drive to the first location, then drive from the 1st 2-week-stay location to the 2nd 2-week-stay location, then to the 3rd 2-week-stay, then to the last destination for 1 night. We spend 2 months in France most years. This June, we will be driving from CDG to Senlis for a 3 hrs visit with bags in the car. Then we will drive on and stay in Compiegne for 4 nights. Then we will drive to Rouen with the bags in the car & stoping at several locations along the way. Then we will be driving from Rouen with the bags in the car to our Gite in Normandy, and stopping along the way. Then after the Gite stay in Normandy, we'll drive with the bags in the car to our second Gite, also in Normandy - stopping along the way. Then after our second Gite we will drive to the 3rd gite north of Paris near Boulougne sur Mer - again with bags in the car & stopping along the way. I'm sure you didn't count the number of days we'll be driving with bags in the car - but it is 5 days. That's just for our spring/summer trip. We typically do it again in Sept - last year with "bags in the car" for 5 days too. That is 10 days per year with bags in the car - probably about typical for most vacationers to France. We have been spending 2 months in Europe (mostly France & Italy) since '99 - so that is about 12 yrs X 10 or 120 days with bags in the car - more than most US vacationers, I bet. We have been vacationing in Europe anually since '77. However, we didn't spend 2 months there until we retired in '99. Our normal visits before '99 would be 3-4 weeks a year. So if we had bags in the car for 10 days for our '77-'98 trips - that is 210 days. 165 + 210 = 375 days with bags in the car & stops along the way - and we've never had anything taken from the car.
Stu Dudley
Typically, we have to drive to the first location, then drive from the 1st 2-week-stay location to the 2nd 2-week-stay location, then to the 3rd 2-week-stay, then to the last destination for 1 night. We spend 2 months in France most years. This June, we will be driving from CDG to Senlis for a 3 hrs visit with bags in the car. Then we will drive on and stay in Compiegne for 4 nights. Then we will drive to Rouen with the bags in the car & stoping at several locations along the way. Then we will be driving from Rouen with the bags in the car to our Gite in Normandy, and stopping along the way. Then after the Gite stay in Normandy, we'll drive with the bags in the car to our second Gite, also in Normandy - stopping along the way. Then after our second Gite we will drive to the 3rd gite north of Paris near Boulougne sur Mer - again with bags in the car & stopping along the way. I'm sure you didn't count the number of days we'll be driving with bags in the car - but it is 5 days. That's just for our spring/summer trip. We typically do it again in Sept - last year with "bags in the car" for 5 days too. That is 10 days per year with bags in the car - probably about typical for most vacationers to France. We have been spending 2 months in Europe (mostly France & Italy) since '99 - so that is about 12 yrs X 10 or 120 days with bags in the car - more than most US vacationers, I bet. We have been vacationing in Europe anually since '77. However, we didn't spend 2 months there until we retired in '99. Our normal visits before '99 would be 3-4 weeks a year. So if we had bags in the car for 10 days for our '77-'98 trips - that is 210 days. 165 + 210 = 375 days with bags in the car & stops along the way - and we've never had anything taken from the car.
Stu Dudley
Mar 28th, 2011, 01:05 PM
#29
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Just a comment about the department of registration. What is shown on the new license plate is the departement you CHOOSE. Often that is where you live or where the car is registerd.
But if you come from Paris and don't want other people to know you come from the big city, you can choose 24, the Dordogne, which people might appreciate more. Or if you live here but were born in Brittany, you could choose their number. No longer does the license plate necessarily show where the car comes from.
When we first came here, in 1994, virtually all rental cars were marked '51', I think, as the road tax was lower there - specifically to attract their business. So rental agencies had an office there, registered their cars there, and then had offices all over France. The tax department obviously caught on, and put an end to this. Then a subsequent government put an end to the road tax, and the purchase of a 'vignette' every year.
But if you come from Paris and don't want other people to know you come from the big city, you can choose 24, the Dordogne, which people might appreciate more. Or if you live here but were born in Brittany, you could choose their number. No longer does the license plate necessarily show where the car comes from.
When we first came here, in 1994, virtually all rental cars were marked '51', I think, as the road tax was lower there - specifically to attract their business. So rental agencies had an office there, registered their cars there, and then had offices all over France. The tax department obviously caught on, and put an end to this. Then a subsequent government put an end to the road tax, and the purchase of a 'vignette' every year.
Apr 6th, 2011, 09:44 AM
#33
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In ten years, I've lost two things from my French-registered junky car (NOT a rental!). Once, left the car with the doors unlocked, overnight, in a public parking spot near my home. Someone went through my little insurance pocket and stole my current insurance tag.
Another time, my LOCAL car was parked until late at night in the public parking lot in Beynac; someone tried to prise open the door with a screwdriver, but didn't succeed. Just messed up the door lock enough that I couldn't get my key in.
Normal precautions apply, just as if you were in Sausalito, California or any other touristic spot.
Here in the heart of the Dordogne, I've had guests for eight years now, in tourist season, and I can't think of ONE who's ever had their rental car broken into.
But I'm sure it "could" happen, so I don't want to be the one to tell you otherwise.
Another time, my LOCAL car was parked until late at night in the public parking lot in Beynac; someone tried to prise open the door with a screwdriver, but didn't succeed. Just messed up the door lock enough that I couldn't get my key in.
Normal precautions apply, just as if you were in Sausalito, California or any other touristic spot.
Here in the heart of the Dordogne, I've had guests for eight years now, in tourist season, and I can't think of ONE who's ever had their rental car broken into.
But I'm sure it "could" happen, so I don't want to be the one to tell you otherwise.
Oct 11th, 2012, 10:22 PM
#34
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I know better. I didn't find this thread until I searched "after the fact"
Someone broke into the rental car today! They didn't break the glass but rather took advantage of the fact that I left the window open about 1". They somehow pulled it out of the track and then must have used something to reach in and unlock the door. I didn't realize right away that the window was compromised until I tried to lower it and it wouldn't go down. They got lucky, sort of, as the ONLY (valuable) thing in the glove box in the car was my GPS. It was in there because it stopped working and both the US map and the French map (on an sd card) were AWOL. So, now we just have to deal with the window. The $24.95 insurance I bought with AMEX card is worth it's price. But merde anyway.
(We had gone into Bonniex just before lunch and we parked in the first parking area we came to, there were a few cars in the lot. Town was very quiet, we walked around and stopped for a lovely lunch. We walked around a bit more before returning to the car.)
So our mistakes were leaving the window open a crack, parking in a rather quiet lot. The GPS was NOT visible nor was there anything else in the car - at all. The car has a 76 plate and a lovely Eurocar sticker on the back window. They broke in, taking advantage of the mistakes we made, hoping that there would be something in the glove box. I had really forgot about it since it wasn't working and realize I should have taken it out but the reality is they broke in without seeing anything inside.
Today is our last full day in Provence, this will not dampen our love for the area.
Someone broke into the rental car today! They didn't break the glass but rather took advantage of the fact that I left the window open about 1". They somehow pulled it out of the track and then must have used something to reach in and unlock the door. I didn't realize right away that the window was compromised until I tried to lower it and it wouldn't go down. They got lucky, sort of, as the ONLY (valuable) thing in the glove box in the car was my GPS. It was in there because it stopped working and both the US map and the French map (on an sd card) were AWOL. So, now we just have to deal with the window. The $24.95 insurance I bought with AMEX card is worth it's price. But merde anyway.
(We had gone into Bonniex just before lunch and we parked in the first parking area we came to, there were a few cars in the lot. Town was very quiet, we walked around and stopped for a lovely lunch. We walked around a bit more before returning to the car.)
So our mistakes were leaving the window open a crack, parking in a rather quiet lot. The GPS was NOT visible nor was there anything else in the car - at all. The car has a 76 plate and a lovely Eurocar sticker on the back window. They broke in, taking advantage of the mistakes we made, hoping that there would be something in the glove box. I had really forgot about it since it wasn't working and realize I should have taken it out but the reality is they broke in without seeing anything inside.
Today is our last full day in Provence, this will not dampen our love for the area.
Oct 12th, 2012, 07:36 AM
#37
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Sorry to hear this, Deb. Michael's right, though, about the license plate - I can't remember the statistics, but something like 90% of rental cars in France come from one département, and the département is always part of the number of the license plate, and thieves know that. I always scrape off the rental car sticker, but that doesn't deter any thief in the know about license plate numbers. Fortunately, I've never had a rental car broken into.
Enjoy your last day anyway!
Enjoy your last day anyway!
Oct 12th, 2012, 08:39 AM
#38
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IMHO - any car can be broken into at any time anywhere in the world.
Someone stole the BATTERY out of my father's car parked in the driveway of their house on a street one-block long in a very quiet middle class suburb. On a Saturday night. He went out Sun am to start the car to go to the bakery and nothing happened. Opened the hood - no battery.
We never leave anything in a car anywhere - and wherever possible park it in a garage. If not that - then on a busy street or in a guarded lot.
Someone stole the BATTERY out of my father's car parked in the driveway of their house on a street one-block long in a very quiet middle class suburb. On a Saturday night. He went out Sun am to start the car to go to the bakery and nothing happened. Opened the hood - no battery.
We never leave anything in a car anywhere - and wherever possible park it in a garage. If not that - then on a busy street or in a guarded lot.
