I used to go to Longleat center parcs at least twice every year for the last 10 years. Last year however, on our last night, our villa was broken in to (using a very basic screwdriver attack), and a load of our stuff was stolen (we had most of it out as we were preparing to leaving the following morning).
Although centerparcs did go the extra mile and offered us a new holiday and also covered some of our insurance excess, on discussing the case with the police there are some disturbing facts.
In 2006 Center Parcs Longleat had a 71 million pound turnover, but only chose to spend £26k on security. Police have advised them to boost security, but they have failed to.
All of the original chalets are massively flawed in security. Awful door and window locks. You could imagine someone breaking in silently whilst you are asleep and taking your stuff or worse, if you have children.
Despite the fact that before our burglary there were 4 other such attacks (some stealing bikes) that SAME week, CPs did not bother to tighten security of add extra alerts to their messaging system in the villas.
Basically, the thugs from local villages and towns have twigged that security is poor at CP and see it as easy pickings. They basically leap over the fence (which isn't guarded or patrolled or on CCTV) take the bikes/money etc and off they go.
So there's my views on it. I wouldn't pass water over CPs now if they were on fire ! If you are going to go, make sure you use the safes at all times and add some addition alarm/lock if you are in the original villa (not sure whether the new villa have superior locks). I wouldn't bother taken your e-bike either, just rent one of CPs, as the thugs don't bother taking those.
