SCARY female van life: we were ASSAULTED in our VAN in South Australia

[@MrZipdang]

As a South Aussie from a country town, I’m so sorry this awful event happened to you both. It’s really sad to know there are idiots like this in these communities, and even more so to know that you couldn’t get police help when you needed it. I hope the rest of your trip is amazing and safe.

[@matandangie]

Thank you so much for saying so ❤️ It’s been a wonderful road trip, apart from this accident. And South Australia is so stunning, definitely deserves more visibility also online, which we tried to portray in all the other videos, cause it’s just so beautiful!

[@shoreseeker]

I’m so sorry to hear this and disappointed in our fellow Australians and SA police… 😔 I hope this never happens to you again and shouldn’t have happened in the first place!

[@matandangie]

Thank you for your support ❤️ we really hope that events like this never happen again, not only to us but to everyone else☀️

[@GoForLaunchVideos]

We are so sad and sorry to hear that this happened to you. We like to think that we’re super safe in Australia but the unfortunate reality is that there are people like this everywhere 😞 We hope you’re both okay and that our country starts to show its brightest colors to you both 🥰

[@matandangie]

So true, it could have happened everywhere.. and this is so sad, cause people like that have a miserable life and I’m sorry for them. Feeling much better now, we overcame the initial shock and all the stunning places we’ve seen afterwards healed everything. Plus all the nice people we’ve met! ❤️ Thanks for saying so though 🙏

[@katierobertsart5658]

I am so sorry sorry this happened to you both. I am new to this channel but did what seems like exactly the same trip through SA a month ago! I even stayed in Robe! I thought about parking where you were but it didn't seem safe to me overnight, just a bit exposed. There are some 'yobbos' around at night and some attitudes towards van lifers parking in towns is pretty negative in Australia, sadly. (I stayed in a lovely caravan park instead) This does not justify what happened. Ring 000 and leave if you ever don't feel safe. In small towns there is not the population to have police stations staffed all the time, is such a small population. Though you should have been able to access help. I am truly sorry you had this experience and hope Angie is not too traumatised. There are wonderful sexual assult services you should be able to access here in Australia, please do get help to process this if you need. All the best with your travels here.

[@matandangie]

Wow thank you Katie for the many answers to our doubts.. we were in Robe pretty much at the same time! 😅 cause this happened by the end of February.. And yes they were definitely ‘yobbos’ (I had to look the term on Google 😅) but that’s definitely what they were.. 😓 It’s so strange to have no police officers in police stations.. even if with smaller population our small towns in Italy are always guarded.. so that’s why we were so surprised! Angie is feeling better now, even reporting it to the police was a big part of the healing process. I think what scared us the most is that similar things have never happened to us in years of van life back in Italy. So the shocking part of it was definitely the toughest to swallow. Thanks again ❤️

[@katierobertsart5658]

@@matandangie I was there in mid March, so we just missed each other! :) I am so glad Angie is feeling better, yay! Yes indeed 'yobbos' are unfortunately part of Australian 'culture'! Not so much in the cities, or inner cities. (I'm in Melbourne if you want to connect! I'll show you around, no yobbos, I promise!) Unfortunately there are not many resources or opportunities, especially in smaller towns and young people are pretty bored and access to cars and alcohol is often the only outlet, sadly. Although that doesn't justify this happening to you, it might explain it. Also in terms of the police, South Australia has a population density of 1.8 per square km. Italy in contest is 198 per square km!! So it has less people per area then Mongolia, plus half of the population live in Adelaide. Yes the station should have been staffed, but that might explain why it was not, imagine they have to cover that whole Limestone Coast area! Safe travels.

[@savoulidis64]

First time I’m watching you guys, please try and camp close to others who are doing the same for your safety. Power in numbers, Australia is a great place but every now and then you might find someone who has issues like those fools. Please take care. ❤️

[@matandangie]

Glad you found us, but just so you know we usually make way happier videos 😅 Yeah that definitely would help as well, it is just not that easy to find other vans around that area.. thank you for your words ❤️

[@profetalks6307]

I am so sorry to hear this. Hope both of you will stay strong and continue to complete your journey in Australia. It's disgusting and shocking what these hooligans did. I hope they will be arrested soon.

[@matandangie]

Absolutely we won’t let such a thing ruin our time here! We sticked together to move on and also reporting to the police helped as well! Thank you for your words ❤️🙏

[@PeterLoh]

Hey Mat and Angie I recently subscribed to your channel after seeing your great vegan video in KL. I’m very sorry this happened to you, and want to thank you for making a police report even though it wasn’t easy to do so! I suggest that you consider posting your story on the South Australia subreddit so that more locals are made aware of what is happening in their community. Perhaps it could help to get a favourable result.

[@matandangie]

Hi Peter! First of all thank you for subscribing 🥹 Yes making the police report was definitely our priority also because it helped us move on! Aww thanks for the Reddit tip, I haven’t used it yet for posting but I’ll look it up cause you’re right it may help! Thank you for what you said 🙏

[@NO-wb3ik]

So sorry that happened to you, and in a remote place where I can imagine how scary it felt especially when they appeared for the second time. Thank goodness you were IN the van! I hope they will be caught and let this be a warning to others who think they can get away. A reminder too for victims to report. Sending you two healing vibes and love ❤️

[@matandangie]

Thank you so much 🥹❤️ Absolutely the fact that we were in the van locked was such a good thing.. I don’t wanna think what could have happened if we were outside..

[@AussieLisa]

Welcome to Australia. 1stly may I say how sorry I am that you had such a traumatic experience here in our beautiful country. Most of us are very relaxed, welcoming, kind, hard working and just nice people I promise. I hope a few knuckleheads dont tarnish your experience and memories here. Stay safe, happy travels from 1 of the nice aussies 😉

[@matandangie]

Everyone else we’ve met other than this has been incredibly nice and welcoming to us, giving us all the tips for the best places to see! So definitely no hard feelings. Plus your country is just too stunning to be “ruined” in our memory by this.. ❤️

[@AussieLisa]

@@matandangie fantastic to here. Im in Victoria too so I can imagine your feeling our chilly evenings coming in now. Ive obviously subbed now and cant wait to see your wonderful travels. Ill have a beer for you both 🍻

[@shaunwhatley7235]

Watching you both for the first time ,so sorry you both went through that .

[@matandangie]

Thank you for saying so Shaun 🙏 I’m glad you found us.. but I kind of wished you found our channel with a happier video 😅

[@linzertube]

❤❤I’m so sorry, guys!❤❤ How frightening to be trapped and have such a traumatic thing forced upon you, twice in one night! You’re right that reporting crimes should not require such a process. If a police station is closed in a small town, the call should go to the officer’s cell phone or to an emergency line from a larger nearby town. How terrible that the system in place in failing visitors to the town, as well as, their own residents. I hope this incident will fade from your minds and be replaced with good memories of kind people and beautiful experiences.❤❤

[@matandangie]

Thank you for your beautiful words ❤️❤️ We are building every day new memories, meeting amazing people and living incredible experiences ☀️ thank you so much again ❤️

[@HalilKucukkose]

So sorry to hear about this. good luck .

[@matandangie]

Thanks ❤️

[@lilth501]

Please no...so sorry.

[@matandangie]

Thanks ❤️

[@Damnkage]

i am in south australia atm and i can tell you here and most regional areas is full of bored kids and crazy stuff going on like this, 1 cop per town , when there are fights no one can come and break them straight away because no police and they all drink and driving here is mad. such a shame for such beautiful places.

[@annew.1]

Sad to say but it is the more desolate places that are the most unsafe and this ultimately hurts the local economy.

[@matandangie]

Such a shame.. you said it right 💔 I’m sorry it is like that! We’ve met also a bunch of lovely locals so it must be so bad for them as well. Also these guys were not scared at all, there cars parked near us and they just didn’t care…

[@matandangie]

Absolutely they must have a hard time if they have dumb guys threatening tourists like that!

[@BordertotheShore]

Most country police stations in SA are unmanned most of the time, as there is usually only 1-2 police officers in the small towns, and they’re often out on jobs. Hopefully the rest of your stay in our great state, makes up for your terrible night. 🇦🇺

[@matandangie]

Everything else we’ve seen and everyone else we’ve met have been such a positive encounter.. so definitely no hard feelings for SA.. it was just shocking out tough it was to report the crime, but I understand that being remote places it’s understandable.. 😅

[@Blbbbb]

So sad and sorry to hear of your experience.

[@matandangie]

Thank you for saying so ❤️

[@giulianocalamai3351]

Fate attenzione ragazze...e non vi isolate troppo la notte!! 😘

[@matandangie]

Grazie Giuliano ❤️ Sempre attenzione 😚

[@Mrbuckaroonie..]

We pride ourselves that we are a safe country and when I hear that things like this have happened to tourists, it makes me mad. I bet it was a bunch of drunken idiots. Anyway, stay safe girls and enjoy our country.

[@matandangie]

No worries your countries is too beautiful to have hard feelings about it 😅 also could have happened in other safer countries as well, it was just very unexpected, cause everyone else we had met, had been lovely!

[@karoana8759]

Sorry that happened to you girls, why didnt you move far away from that area? I could not fall asleep after that first event!

[@matandangie]

Thank you so much 🙏 we didn’t move ‘cause at the first time we thought it would have been just that event.. we never thought they would have come back..

[@ben5219]

I'm sorry that happened to you. Sounds like a bunch of drop-kicks. Stay safe.

[@matandangie]

Thanks Ben 🙏

[@mscatherinelong67]

It’s so awful this happened. This is why cats are better than people. I had a really horrible experience in Brussels in my mid 20s (about 20 years ago now!) and I’ve never been back to Brussels. It’s horrible how a bad experience can make you feel.

[@matandangie]

Absolutely! People can be so cruel.. I’m sorry you had a horrible experience in Brussels… and yes even “just” a bad experience can bring you down a lot.. ❤️

[@VanventureswithKaia]

OMG I’m so sorry this happened to you this is totally unacceptable & wrong for the police stations to be closed & unattended you shouldn’t have to drive many miles just to find an open police station that’s ridiculous but I’m glad that you’re reporting this incident always record all incidents with your phone so you have evidence i hope this doesn’t happen to you ever again look after each other & it might be a good idea to have some counselling to help with your recovery also you should’ve left immediately after the first incident if something happens again it’s important to drive away immediately to a different location & remember if you have a negative feeling when you park somewhere don’t question it & move immediately on to another place & maybe you should get a curtain or blackout blinds for the skylight i hope you are feeling better soon

[@matandangie]

You are so right! Thank you for what you said ❤️ We should have moved immediately, but it was such a lovely parking spot and we thought it was “just” some dumb kids.. never thought something like that could be possible.

[@sandyosullivan]

I’m so sorry about this. What creeps!

[@matandangie]

Thanks ❤️ so upsetting.. 😫

[@keangwooichoo6138]

Hopefully the camp sites are safe

[@matandangie]

Being on such a tiny budget we tried to free camp as much as possible given it should be very easy here in Australia, but yes campsite are definitely the safer option.. really expensive though!

[@karoana8759]

You dont have curtains for privacy at night time ?Please be safe

[@matandangie]

As soon as we picked up the van we asked for the curtains at the rental company but they told us that their vans don’t have them…

[@jospenner9503]

@@matandangie I agree. You should invest in curtains. Velcro is the best option for vehicles.

[@famangelwings8329]

im new to your channel.im sorry for what hapened to yous.keep enjoying yourselfs.tasmania is a good place to visit.

[@matandangie]

Glad you found us ❤️ (even though I hope not from this video 😅) we loved every other second of our road trip here.. and someday we wanna come visit Tasmania as well! It seems so beautiful 🥹

[@famangelwings8329]

@@matandangie it is beautiful.

[@GayeCarroll]

As an Aussie I am furious that this has happened to you😢

[@matandangie]

thank you for saying so, we've met many other stunning people after that though ❤️

[@grol094]

I'm sad that you had this terrible experience in Australia

[@matandangie]

Thanks for saying so ❤️ The worst part was that we loved everything else, that’s why it was so upsetting..

[@jospenner9503]

Oh no. I'm sorry this terrible experience happened to you two ladies. It really makes my blood boil that stupid people like those cowardly guys exist in the world. Will you be taking extra precautions now in the future? I hope you have plenty of weapons, like knives, pepper spray, stun guns, and possibly dual dashcams for monitoring around the clock, and loud alarms. Please stay safe and be careful about vlogging. You don't want to give your location away to potential criminals. ❤😢

[@matandangie]

Thank you Jospenner for saying so 🥹 We had no self defence things with us! 😅 which though maybe was not the best.. but at least we were inside the locked van.. it was more the shock about the situation and also the fear that they might come back. It’s very upsetting there are such people.. but unfortunately it’s a worldwide problem and we’ll definitely be more cautious in the future! It was also more than a month ago so we’re keeping it safe when it comes to location.. thanks for your words ❤️ we really appreciate it!

[@cindysegar1426]

You guys should have moved spots after the first time they came.

[@matandangie]

Thinking about it now.. yes definitely

[@jojet1980]

I live in Adelaide and hearing ur bad experience makes me furious

[@matandangie]

Thanks for saying so. It’s just an old memory though now, all the beautiful people we’ve met after that have made up for that! ❤️

[@michaelbaker7039]

That would have been frightening experience I had the same sort of thing happen to me in Alice Springs n.t when I lived in the caravan park.lucky that they didn't get in because I was sitting there with loaded rifle at the time.

[@matandangie]

It was very frightening! Sorry that happened to you as well! We were definitely also not prepared self defence wise. So is Alice Springs not safe?

[@michaelbaker7039]

@@matandangie Alice Springs is fantastic place to holiday you will be fine there. I really enjoyed it there it has some of the most amazing places to see around Alice you will love it. I just had a bad experience that one time don't let it put you off travelling.

[@matandangie]

Awww glad to hear that! It is not in our plans rn (also because our 3 months tourist visa is almost over) but we definitely wanna visit it someday 😍

[@keangwooichoo6138]

How can police station close ? That is so weird. I never heard such things before.

[@matandangie]

It was the first time also for us.. it was so frustrating 😔

[@smilesmite6682]

This is horrible and it’s disgusting that there were no police services available. I hope this hasn’t ruined your opinion of Australia. And hopefully they catch the people that did this to you.

[@matandangie]

Absolutely not.. this country is just too beautiful to have hate for it.. and people as well have been so kind and welcoming to us! That was also part of the reason it was so shocking the event cause all the people we had met as far in Australia were so nice to us and gave us all tips for the best spots to visit!

[@smilesmite6682]

@@matandangie That’s so great to hear. Hopefully you enjoy the rest of your trip!

[@VanessaMilne]

So saddened to learn this, just should not happen but sadly it does. Stay strong dear ones and do try to enjoy the rest of your travels. Sending big hugs to you both .... can not explain about police stations closing, being from the USA it just would never happen!!!... thoughts with you both.

[@matandangie]

Thank you Vanessa 🥹 we really appreciate it ❤️ It was so strange for us as well.. probably they don’t get enough funds to keep policemen in police stations all the time.. but yes it was very unexpected!

[@MelodyMan69]

How many 'groups' of young men (?) are there in ROBE. ? Can't be more than one. 🇦🇺 Everybody in town will know who they are.

[@matandangie]

Yeah for sure, but being Robe police station closed I feel like the process of finding them has been trickier.. never heard back from police ever since indeed 😓

[@GaryNoone-jz3mq]

😢Every society has it's idiots. Unfortunately you have run into a couple of our's. Please believe me, they are definitely in the minority and the rest of us welcome you here.

[@matandangie]

Gary absolutely, everyone we’ve met has been incredibly kind and welcoming ❤️ so definitely no hard feelings.

[@keangwooichoo6138]

Maybe just leave australia and go to New zealand

[@hankcuccina5260]

Hahaaa!! that wouldn't be coming from a Kiwi would it?

[@keangwooichoo6138]

@@hankcuccina5260 nope, I am malaysian

[@Danger_Mouse3619]

​@@keangwooichoo6138that's worse. 😂

[@biggils8894]

Most of these criminals in Australia are from New Zealand! Our prisons are full of them! And the chaos from these group of ppl are destroying our suburbs. Stop the free boarder with New Zealand

[@biggils8894]

@@keangwooichoo6138 New Zealand ppl are causing chaos in Australia!

[@nikrosevca9294]

Omg don’t let those idiots put you off the rest of your travel adventures. stay strong! 🙏🏽🥰💛

[@cherieleeishere]

So very sorry this happened and sadly this is such a beautiful place that was ruined by thoughtless humans. Having lived in metropolitan Adelaide I need to say the police in this state aren't here to help citizens they are here to fine people and raise money for the government. My family and I have needed their help but they just brush us off. I really hope they find these idiots who caused this traumatic time for you. Enjoy your journey ahead 🙏🏼✨

[@matandangie]

Thank you for your words, and I’m sorry you’ve had bad experiences with police as well, it’s so frustrating. Luckily our journey afterwards was all great ❤️

[@annew.1]

Take care. Stay safe.

[@matandangie]

Thank you Anne ❤️

[@Danger_Mouse3619]

Sounds like a bunch of teen-agers. Should of called when they turned up 1st time.

[@Danger_Mouse3619]

Get in contact with the media like the current affairs program as if they get on it the police and the government have a lot to answer for themselves and the situation you have to deal with.

[@matandangie]

Yeah thinking about it we should have called immediately after the first time! How should we contact the media? What do you mean?

[@Danger_Mouse3619]

@@matandangie contact the main news channels like 7 news, 9 news and 10 news. There's a current affair on channel 9. Also talk back radio stations on AM. When the media find out about a good story like your own that tried calling a police station that was closed. I'm sure someone will take this story and take things future to make more news of it.

[@matandangie]

Okay we’ll see how to do it! Thanks a lot 🙏

[@aidanross9489]

Sooo sorry to hear this. It shouldn't happen to anyone, let alone to two of the loveliest girls around. Stay strong Angie. You were clearly affected by the experience. It's heartbreaking to see you this way 😥 But I'm also glad that Mat is there for you Angie. Together you are stronger than what you could ever imagine. Be a support and look after each other. There's nothing that you can't go through together! Tanto amore, abbraccio e baci ❤❤❤OXOXOX

[@matandangie]

Grazie Aidan this is so nice of you ❤️ We really appreciate it. Angie is feeling better now.. it took a while though and still thinking about that is not that pleasant. I’d say also because we have done van life for so long back in Italy and nothing has ever happened to us, so definitely our guard was definitely set too low. But it’s true going through something like this together helped in a way cause we understood the other more easily and that also helped to move on. Tanto amore to you as well ❤️🥹❤️

[@issieanderson2083]

So sorry that you have had this experience. I have spent many months in Australia travelling and visiting relatives and friends since 1986. The last trip was 2017. I would never drive around in a rental like yours, or feel confident as a gay couple in rural areas. Australia is a tough culture to navigate, and an interesting country to visit.

[@matandangie]

I see your point, but if that can make you feel better this was “just” one thing in the whole road trip.. I kind of think we were unlucky, cause apart from this accident everyone else we’ve met has been lovely to us.. and I’m pretty sure most of the people understood we are a couple 😅 but definitely rural areas can be more difficult to navigate for us 💔

[@rebekahritchie9012]

The number to call is 131 444. This is to report a non urgent crime! In my position I would’ve called 000 as it was happening and moved after the first instance! This is sad that this has happened to you as travelers.

[@matandangie]

Thank you for the numbers.. we know them now 😅 but always worth sharing emergency numbers! Yeah thinking about it now we should have moved immediately after the first instance.. thanks for your words ❤️

[@jessieheartart]

OMG! I'm sooooo sorry that happened to you guys!!! How crazy and terrible. Please keep having fun and staying Extra Safe!!! Take extra precautions always!!! Sending you love and light!!!!

[@matandangie]

Thank you for saying so ❤️ it was an unpleasant event but for sure we won’t stop having fun ☀️ thank you again 🙏