Security - novice camper needs to wise up (probably)

[MadBadandDangerousToKnow]

We are quite new to this camping lark.

We have been in the habit of just zipping up our worldly goods in our tent and leaving it. So far, so good. But I've seen mentions of locking one's tent so now I'm wondering whether we're being reckless. Should we be fortifying our tent against footpads and villains? If so, how?

I ahve heard of tents getting robbed but I think it is rare, although depends on the cmpsite and the campers so its probably best to be safe.
Do you have a car with you.? I know of a lot of people who put valuables in the car boot.
With regards to locking tent I have come across people who put those luggage type padlocks through the zips, however I don't know if its a good idea in an emergency if you were inside and needed to get out.

Anyway a determined thief could just cut through the canvas.

A better idea might be one of those rape alarm things which you could put through the zips.

nah if someone really want to steal from your tent then they'll just slash it!

Put valuables locked out of sight in your car / roofbox we always move Ds's and cameras. But the best rule is to amke friends with your neighbours when camping and keep a look out for each othere. Generally campsites are safe places, we've never had anything taken or even heard of it. Then agin we don't go to huge Haven type sites - maybe that is diffferent?

Thanks, that's reassuring.

We don't really take valuables with us and things like cameras we would always have with us, anyway. I wondered whether I was being naive in not getting some of those luggage padlocks but I would never want to lock myself into the tent - if we had them at all it would only be for when we were leaving the tent empty. What got me started on this was reading something (in the paper? on here?) by a mum who wanted a lockable tent for her son going on his gap year. But we was probably going to livelier places than us!