Alot you hear about is drivers fairy stories, take it all with a large pinch of salt.
Had HGV 1 for 32,years been all over Europe and uk and never felt threatend or in danger, common sense is a great tool…
Had my diesel nicked (in uk) but nobody has tried to get in my cab if they did I would be vey upset with them and beat the living daylights out of them!!!
Most thieves are scummy little tossers who go for easy pickings, don’t be afraid just kick the crap out of them, they’ll thankyou in the end…
))))
Fileep:
How much of a ballache is it waiting for plod to turn up if you have to involve them for any theft etc|?
I don’t know, I’ve never reported it. £10 (in France) and a pair of Ray-Bans stolen, I just put it down to experience.
I think women should be a little careful, especially as the industry is growing with woman drivers, but no so much you ratchet strap the doors together… that’s all good and well until there’s an electrical fault or something to cause a fire. But forgetting to lock your doors is just taking the mick, my car doors lock automatically when i get above 10mph.
I’ve had my diesel stolen in England and didn’t hear a thing? They got away with about 300 litres and they even replaced the fuel cap 
As for personal safety I can’t say that I have ever felt worried about parking up - I guess you just use you judgement and find the best place that you can. The only time that I ever pay for parking is if I’ve got a high value load on. I don’t think that makes it any safer but if anything goes missing my arse is covered with the boss.
The funny thing about my incident is it was in a place I’d parked before and had no worries about.
I would think the bat is alright to have in the cab as long as you have the ball (everyone likes a game of rounders).
The Knife, was there not a greek driver in the paper 3/4 years ago who knifed two neds that broke into his cab in the uk, they then sped off to the hospital in a stolen subaru. Cant remember the ins and outs but i think he got away with it (rightly so if you ask me).
As for the original question, its a big bad world out there, i would rather have some form of protection and not need it, than need it and not have it. Pepper spray, electric taser thing. Was thinking about one of those personal alarm things but im sure if you could reack the air horns that would be more effective.
Sam Millar:
my car doors lock automatically when i get above 10mph.
It’s very rare to get above 10 miles an hour when parked in a lay-by for your daily rest period.
I have no weapon easily to hand, and I don’t want any. I remember my dads van got broken into once, they took everything. He missed them by seconds and kept saying he wished he’d got hold of them. I’m glad he didnt, I don’t want my father in prison. Possessions will come and go. A theft is horrible, believe me it’s happened a few times to me but you know what I’ll let my possessions go long before I’d risk my life or liberty. No amount of possessions is worth spending any time in prison for, let alone a fight that could end up with your serious injury or death.
switchlogic:
I have no weapon easily to hand, and I don’t want any. I remember my dads van got broken into once, they took everything. He missed them by seconds and kept saying he wished he’d got hold of them. I’m glad he didnt, I don’t want my father in prison. Possessions will come and go. A theft is horrible, believe me it’s happened a few times to me but you know what I’ll let my possessions go long before I’d risk my life or liberty. No amount of possessions is worth spending any time in prison for, let alone a fight that could end up with your serious injury or death.
your right there luke.
The problem with any sort of weapon is you have to be able to use it or hang on to it, they can take it off you and use it on you, then where are you
oldsid:
The problem with any sort of weapon is you have to be able to use it or hang on to it, they can take it off you and use it on you, then where are you
Also I don’t think that baseball bat or any kind of gas spray is good for such confined space as lorry cab
I remember once we were hitchhilikg with my friends, and we had to spend a night in a tent placed in the bushes next to the motorway parking. In the night I went to the toilet and when I came back I woke up one of my friend, who grabbed his tear gas spray and used it on me, as he thought I am a thief.
I just backed off and waited outside for them to get off the tent, crying and completely desorientated. If I was really a thief, I would not even need any tool to deal with them both
orys:
oldsid:
The problem with any sort of weapon is you have to be able to use it or hang on to it, they can take it off you and use it on you, then where are youAlso I don’t think that baseball bat or any kind of gas spray is good for such confined space as lorry cab
I remember once we were hitchhilikg with my friends, and we had to spend a night in a tent placed in the bushes next to the motorway parking. In the night I went to the toilet and when I came back I woke up one of my friend, who grabbed his tear gas spray and used it on me, as he thought I am a thief.
I just backed off and waited outside for them to get off the tent, crying and completely desorientated. If I was really a thief, I would not even need any tool to deal with them both
Its easy before the event to plan things in your mind but when the ■■■■ hits the fan all the planning goes out of the window, chances are if you have been asllep you will be at half speed and they have the upper hand already.
Did you give up camping then Orys? 
oldsid:
orys:
oldsid:
The problem with any sort of weapon is you have to be able to use it or hang on to it, they can take it off you and use it on you, then where are youAlso I don’t think that baseball bat or any kind of gas spray is good for such confined space as lorry cab
I remember once we were hitchhilikg with my friends, and we had to spend a night in a tent placed in the bushes next to the motorway parking. In the night I went to the toilet and when I came back I woke up one of my friend, who grabbed his tear gas spray and used it on me, as he thought I am a thief.
I just backed off and waited outside for them to get off the tent, crying and completely desorientated. If I was really a thief, I would not even need any tool to deal with them both
Its easy before the event to plan things in your mind but when the [zb] hits the fan all the planning goes out of the window, chances are if you have been asllep you will be at half speed and they have the upper hand already.
Did you give up camping then Orys?
Well, luckily it was in southern France, so I slept for next few days outside the tent
If you ask in general: no, I still do like camping. Since the only situation was caused by my own friend, I don’t think it’s really as dangerous
Best weapon to have is a sock with plenty of 50p’s and £1 coins in…swing that at someoneand they’d know about it.
Then put the coins in your pocket at sock on your foot…what weapon officer? 
Truckulent:
Best weapon to have is a sock with plenty of 50p’s and £1 coins in…swing that at someoneand they’d know about it.Then put the coins in your pocket at sock on your foot…what weapon officer?
Not much use to a skint bar steward like me though is it 
I am female have done some night out but I do lock my doors take keys out of ignition place out of sight go to sleep have slept in many lay by & industrial est never had a prob in last 17year
green456:
Truckulent:
Best weapon to have is a sock with plenty of 50p’s and £1 coins in…swing that at someoneand they’d know about it.Then put the coins in your pocket at sock on your foot…what weapon officer?
Not much use to a skint bar steward like me though is it
Have you tried Poundland, they have socks for a, err… £1. That would surely solve your problem?
Whether this makes the door any more locked is beyond me but my mate reckons to remove the ignition key, wind down the windows & reach out to lock the doors with the key.
To be honest, I wouldn’t worry yourself too much, make sure your phone is always charged & has credit to call 999 if you have your sleep disturbed having your fuel syphoned off. You could always fire the lorry up & drive off if you felt your safety was at risk 
BB
When i park somewhere overnight i’ll usually try and park near another lorry (safety in numbers i guess) or in a position where the fuel tank is hard to get at, only had one scare when i parked near Wincanton just before Christmas. Got woken up in the middle of the night by some idiot ■■■■■ banging on the door, when i peaked out he was fiddling with the top of the tank, so instant reaction i shouted at him to zb off or im calling the police, luckily it was enough to frighten him off. No harm done but was a tad unnerving at the time though
Basilbrush:
make sure your phone is always charged & has credit to call 999
You don’t need credit to call 999 or 112.