Embarrassing, frightening, unerving experience

[Riverbankannie]

We left our bike at a train station just outside Nice and came back to no bikes, when we got off the train we thought we’d got off at wrong station before it hit us that bikes had been stolen. Station cctv and local police were useless.

Ditto but at Abbey Wood London, and the locks popped at Sitges. I don’t waste much time worrying about it or else would never go away.
I am mostly surprised that the plastic windows that are surface mounted and have a useful (for a gemmy) gap around the perimeter survive.
I am beyond worrying about my possessions (although husband not so much as he wouldn’t lend his completely unused bike out recently in case it got stolen!)

 

[Dutch 68]

An unnerving experience. We are a bit obsessive about security. Our passports and any sterling cash are always kept permanently in the MH safe when we are abroad. The only time they come out is if needed to book into a campsite. We carry photocopies of the passports in our wallets. I always have my wallet and debit card with me whenever I leave the MH. Tablets also locked in the safe if we are leaving the MH unattended. The safe also contains my credit card so if I'm mugged I can still access funds.

A safe in a MH is just like a safe in a hotel room not a safe place for a professional, unfortunately

 

[gus-lopez]

Is this weakness on all ages of Fiat Ducato or do the newer ones have a different lock structure to stop this?

They still sell them for the latest models so I'd be surprised if anything was different?

 

[lorger]

Ditto but at Abbey Wood London, and the locks popped at Sitges. I don’t waste much time worrying about it or else would never go away.
I am mostly surprised that the plastic windows that are surface mounted and have a useful (for a gemmy) gap around the perimeter survive.
I am beyond worrying about my possessions (although husband not so much as he wouldn’t lend his completely unused bike out recently in case it got stolen!)

Same here we tend not to worry to much and just do the best we can to protect our stuff, it does make me angry though that no one in an official position seems to care. Two days later in Nice we had the van broken into, nothing stolen and just a broken window corner on hab window. Both incidents annoyed us but didn’t spoil our holiday.

 

[Wee Bold Davy]

You will all think “What a prat.”

I suppose I am a bit lax about security, I don’t know whether my strong optimistic nature leads me to have a sense of invulnerability, or that I am as described above.

On returning from about half an hour in the E Leclerc in Perpignan there was a momentary feeling of puzzlement, which led me to ask my wife “Why did you put my sterling wallet and the passports in your handbag?”. I had found the handbag on the seat by the hab door. That puzzlement was quickly replaced by the realisation that we had been 'turned over'.

It was quite a tidy job, cupboards opened, make-up bags upturned on the bed, the floor storage area hatch opened.

It seemed nothing had been taken - not the two iPads, nor the guitar, and bizarrely not my wife’s handbag, which had been stuffed with the passports, and the credit cards removed from my sterling wallet and Maggie’s purse.

It was only after the shock receded and we began to hide (ha ha) things away again that we realised the only thing that had been taken was the cash in my wallet and her purse - not a large amount of money at all.

Why hadn’t they taken that potentially valuable haul in the handbag?

The real puzzle is this. When we returned, and I activated the remote key fob, if I had forgotten to lock the van, that action would have locked it, and we couldn’t have got in initially. And if I had locked it, how did they get in? There was no sign of damage, anywhere.

And why leave the handbag there, as if ready to snatch, and shut the door. It was almost as if we were being taunted. They could have taken it, but didn't.

Of course now I will be much more rigorous. It could have ruined this whole trip.

There's an extraordinary program I watched on BBC iPlayer on BBC Scotland called 'Confessions of a teenage fraudster' who managed to get over 2 £million by the time he was 20 from people's credit cards without in many cases even having the credit cards. He lived it up for 4 years travelling around the world first class, staying in top hotels, spending £1000 on a bottle of champagne and even sending a second one to a neighbouring table! The story is told by the fraudster himself. Having worked in a call centre on leaving school he knew all the tricks and was very clever on the phone, very slick and convincing, impersonating hotel managers and even an official from the Canadian embassy to immigration when he was to be extradited back to the UK! After seeing the error of his ways and spending time in prison he now works for major companies fighting fraud. It's in 3 parts and I ended bing watching all 3. It's a stunning series well worth watching

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[royandsharont]

Not too suprising really Chuns. They left everything of value that could possibly be identified and therefore link them into the burglary and only took what couldn’t be identified as yours, unless you had the serial numbers or your prints were on the notes. A safer bet for them

 

[Lenny HB]

Is this weakness on all ages of Fiat Ducato or do the newer ones have a different lock structure to stop this?

I believe they have a plate inside the door now to prevent it, from around 2021 I think.

 

[DBK]

A safe in a MH is just like a safe in a hotel room not a safe place for a professional, unfortunately

Of course not but they have to find it first, it isn't in plain sight and it will cause a bit of a delay once they do find it.

I'm happy it will thwart the opportunist thief looking for whatever is easy to grab quickly. I lost a pair of sunglasses in Jordan once from someone reaching in through an open window and grabbing them off the dashboard.

 

[PaulW2]

Would the Van Bitz Growler not make a huge racket if they open the door with their pinhole spikes and would this not in itself stop a lot of them in their tracks?

It seems to me that they are likely to overcome almost any physical impediment, up to and including deadlocks, if they want to.

However, the noise attracts attention and may scare them off. Best if the triggering of that noise is preceded by the smallest amount of physical damage to the car.

 

[Spriddler]

Absolutely nothing, nothing whatsoever of value in my ancient m/h. I don't even have a Smartphone and take my wallet, cards and passport with me when I go out. They'd be more likely to leave me a few euros for a cup of coffee.
When I parked at my local metal recycling centre intending to get it weighed a guy stuck his head out of the office window and shouted: "Sorry mate, we don't take vehicles".

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[Brains]

Oh ... so true!

Talking of which
You have a secret compartment in your new van

DM me as I'll bet a bottle of beer you have not found it yet.
But its a good place for the passports and back up cards etc.

 

[Northernraider]

A safe in a MH is just like a safe in a hotel room not a safe place for a professional, unfortunately

I dunno I think my safe would be very hard to find and even harder to break in to. It's enough of a pita to use lol

 

[Soots]

I should have mentioned they took both our Rolexes, and the two spares, and I'm sure I smelled gas. Must call the insurance company!

Sorry to hear you're on hard times! With only 2 rolexes, missing . Hope it didn't ruin your break.

 

[Hayesdec]

I should have mentioned they took both our Rolexes, and the two spares, and I'm sure I smelled gas. Must call the insurance company!

Hi
Was that a joke about the Rolexes ? Because if they did get away with the watches. They probably thought it’s our lucky day why would they bother with anything else?

I tend to be overly cautious. But one night I left the bike unlocked, I heard a car pull up. I have a camera outside. I looked and shouted Janet !!! Someone has stolen my bike. We both rushed outside only to find the cover had blown of the bike and the camera was facing the wrong way it was focused on the empty cover. Bike was still there…..

 

[Delboyarapaho]

I’d leave the wife in the MH ,that way we’d get what we needed not a trolley full of ‘bargains’ ,unusual things that might come in handy and gifts for the grandkids!

But she might get stolen

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[Dalesguy]

You will all think “What a prat.”

I suppose I am a bit lax about security, I don’t know whether my strong optimistic nature leads me to have a sense of invulnerability, or that I am as described above.

On returning from about half an hour in the E Leclerc in Perpignan there was a momentary feeling of puzzlement, which led me to ask my wife “Why did you put my sterling wallet and the passports in your handbag?”. I had found the handbag on the seat by the hab door. That puzzlement was quickly replaced by the realisation that we had been 'turned over'.

It was quite a tidy job, cupboards opened, make-up bags upturned on the bed, the floor storage area hatch opened.

It seemed nothing had been taken - not the two iPads, nor the guitar, and bizarrely not my wife’s handbag, which had been stuffed with the passports, and the credit cards removed from my sterling wallet and Maggie’s purse.

It was only after the shock receded and we began to hide (ha ha) things away again that we realised the only thing that had been taken was the cash in my wallet and her purse - not a large amount of money at all.

Why hadn’t they taken that potentially valuable haul in the handbag?

The real puzzle is this. When we returned, and I activated the remote key fob, if I had forgotten to lock the van, that action would have locked it, and we couldn’t have got in initially. And if I had locked it, how did they get in? There was no sign of damage, anywhere.

And why leave the handbag there, as if ready to snatch, and shut the door. It was almost as if we were being taunted. They could have taken it, but didn't.

Of course now I will be much more rigorous. It could have ruined this whole trip.

Hi, sorry to hear of your troubles, what make of safe do you use in your van, think i had better fit one.

 

[GMLS]

They did our last van the same way
Personally I wouldn’t add anything that means more damage done if they try again, we had the door of be our Winnebago crow barred open ,causing nearly £10 k of damage

Yup that's why this time I've decided against using the Fiamma and Milenco type locks.Seen a whole side panel pulled away from the adjacent panel due to crowbar attack.

 

[activecampers]

Sorry to hear but sounds a fairly good result considering.

My MY20 van (with OEM deadlocks) is still susceptible to the tiny hole and screwdriver trick. I am aware of a later van who was told it wasn't susceptible by the dealer, but it actually was.... So be careful with what you hear and are told.

Here is my YT video of installing the pro plate. Needs to go on all keyed doors.

Yes, a crowbar will open a door, but so will a brick/hammer open any window - all you can do is deter the opportunist and hope for the best. If they want it they will take it and don't care about causing damage. We go for a mix of visible and invisible security bits, some passive, some reactive, and just hope lady luck is on our side.

 

[DDJC]

Sorry to hear but sounds a fairly good result considering.

My MY20 van (with OEM deadlocks) is still susceptible to the tiny hole and screwdriver trick. I am aware of a later van who was told it wasn't susceptible by the dealer, but it actually was.... So be careful with what you hear and are told.

Here is my YT video of installing the pro plate. Needs to go on all keyed doors.

Yes, a crowbar will open a door, but so will a brick/hammer open any window - all you can do is deter the opportunist and hope for the best. If they want it they will take it and don't care about causing damage. We go for a mix of visible and invisible security bits, some passive, some reactive, and just hope lady luck is on our side.

Thanks for this. I have been thinking about fitting these for some time.

The 'brick through the window' method might be better foiled by fitting lockable HEO locks to the inside of the cab doors. It does mean that you can only access the MH through the hab door, and I have fitted Fiamma locks to the garage and hab doors. We take passports, cards, cash and spare keys whenever we leave the bus unattended.

But it depends on what the scumbag is after. I can live with losing tablets, phones, cards, etc, but not the MH itself. I have two immobilisers and the HEO cab locks. The windows have the little orange security catches on them, but I have doubts about their effectiveness.

 

[Smokaijo]

I dunno I think my safe would be very hard to find and even harder to break in to. It's enough of a pita to use lol

Can you tell me what make you use as we thought about getting a Bear Safe for under driver/passenger seat but wasn’t sure if that was a good enough deterrent especially as we won’t to travel more abroad ???

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[Northernraider]

Can you tell me what make you use as we thought about getting a Bear Safe for under driver/passenger seat but wasn’t sure if that was a good enough deterrent especially as we won’t to travel more abroad ???

Don't know what make it is sorry.

 

[gus-lopez]

it does make me angry though that no one in an official position seems to care.

This is way I hate those in official positions even more than the scum thieving.

 

[Kimcurlysmith]

I believe they have a plate inside the door now to prevent it, from around 2021 I think.

What about older ones that don't have central locking?

 

[JJ]

Where is the safe ?

"Don't tell her Pike..."

JJ

 

[SSILVO]

The real puzzle is this. When we returned, and I activated the remote key fob, if I had forgotten to lock the van, that action would have locked it, and we couldn’t have got in initially. And if I had locked it, how did they get in? There was no sign of damage, anywhere.

And why leave the handbag there, as if ready to snatch, and shut the door. It was almost as if we were being taunted. They could have taken it, but didn't.

Of course now I will be much more rigorous. It could have ruined this whole trip.

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[SSILVO]

We had a Growler system at vanbitz and have not been hit yet in 3 years.It won't stop the burglary attempt ,but when the alarm goes off and if the burglar is in ,the alarm is so loud all they can do is put their fingers in their ears and move on asap ,it's really loud and has sirens inside and outside. Oh and a blue flashing LED in each corner of the van and on dash ,it also comes with multi language stickers ,stating it's fitted with Growler and Strikeback

 

[SophieB]

You will all think “What a prat.”

I suppose I am a bit lax about security, I don’t know whether my strong optimistic nature leads me to have a sense of invulnerability, or that I am as described above.

On returning from about half an hour in the E Leclerc in Perpignan there was a momentary feeling of puzzlement, which led me to ask my wife “Why did you put my sterling wallet and the passports in your handbag?”. I had found the handbag on the seat by the hab door. That puzzlement was quickly replaced by the realisation that we had been 'turned over'.

It was quite a tidy job, cupboards opened, make-up bags upturned on the bed, the floor storage area hatch opened.

It seemed nothing had been taken - not the two iPads, nor the guitar, and bizarrely not my wife’s handbag, which had been stuffed with the passports, and the credit cards removed from my sterling wallet and Maggie’s purse.

It was only after the shock receded and we began to hide (ha ha) things away again that we realised the only thing that had been taken was the cash in my wallet and her purse - not a large amount of money at all.

Why hadn’t they taken that potentially valuable haul in the handbag?

The real puzzle is this. When we returned, and I activated the remote key fob, if I had forgotten to lock the van, that action would have locked it, and we couldn’t have got in initially. And if I had locked it, how did they get in? There was no sign of damage, anywhere.

And why leave the handbag there, as if ready to snatch, and shut the door. It was almost as if we were being taunted. They could have taken it, but didn't.

Of course now I will be much more rigorous. It could have ruined this whole trip.

My parents had a motorhome many years ago that was parked on their driveway next to the house. They lived in Montana, where at the time, there was not much crime. Plus, my Dad was a retired San Francisco Police officer so teenagers who generally caused minor damage and/vandalism left their house alone.. Anyway, Dad found there had been a code 459 (burglary) in his motorhome. Since my parents weren´t traveling, there was not much of value inside. It too was a puzzle. The entry door and windows were locked. Turns out, the prospective thief came in through the "hidden" door for one of the storage compartments reached from the outside. He/she had jimmied the flimsy lock. 2nd puzzle was the opening was so small, it had to be a very small human who came through the opening. Good thing Dad wasn´t inside, as thief would have had an quite a frightening meetup.

 

[KevinTuplin]

I recently had someone attempt to enter my 2018 Fiat based motorhome by attempting to open the driver door from the bottom of the door handle. I noticed the missing paint on the door and found the rubber seal was split. In the second photo you can see the hole that was punched in the door to access the door lock catch visible directly above the hole. Fortunately I have Thule door locks fitted on the inside of the doors which prevented the thief from opening the door to gain entry. I now have fitted the protectaplate to both doors thus stopping the same method of entry being repeated

 

[Chuns]

Thanks for all the supportive comments. And yes the Rolex reference was a joke, spotted as such by some. I hope somebody will elaborate, not me, I'm in bed.

 

[Martin How]

Not a prat at all. Our 2000 Hymer van (bought nth hand) has extra security locks that swing over the doors and garage far enough to make even crowbarring the door open time consuming. They are not things of elegance or beauty but give obvious extra security.

I am not sure why one is Milenco and two Fiamma, but given a choice I would prefer the Milenco one.

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