French Aire night fright

[Sundowners]

As an extra security feature we use a strap that goes around the door handle and the entrance hand rail on the inside, if you have one.

 

[chaser]

Glad hear you are ok now, and apologize for doubting you story as we have had similar first posts many times before and never hear from them again, anyway hope you get it sorted, and have many happy holidays and are able to put this behind you.
But as I said before, don't make it that secure from the inside that you can't get out in a hurry.

 

[DBK]

Hello to all the people who kindly answered my question. We have been traveling all day and I have read all the answers but did not see how to reply.
There was no damage and nothing stolen, although stuff piled by the front seat. We are checking the alarm system but it did not go off. We are amazed we did not hear the door opening and the steps going out- but we were tired from a troubled sleep in the garage Aire and driving in the rain all day. We are going to buy some motion sensors and fit a chain to the door and have a couple of other ideas. We will use some of the excellent advice on using the sites suggested here. By the way, all windows and roof vents were shut and the man jumped over the bike and ran off into the trees. We will make sure we are more careful and thanks for all the help ?

Glad all now well. Motion sensors generally have to be switched off if you are in the vehicle, though I guess if you have a large vehicle then one could be active away from the sleeping/loo area. I think the main thing is to have working alarm switches on all doors and any windows big enough for someone to enter through. You will then be able to sleep safe almost anywhere.

 

[MikeD]

If it is a Fiat Ducato based motorhome they do not show much damage when they are broken into.

We met a couple from Sweden who had been broken into in Barcelona.

The police showed the couple how the doors were opened.

Just a little mark in the trim below the drivers door handle. Pop's all the central locking and disarms the alarm apparently.

 

[Baileysbus]

If it is a Fiat Ducato based motorhome they do not show much damage when they are broken into.

We met a couple from Sweden who had been broken into in Barcelona.

The police showed the couple how the doors were opened.

Just a little mark in the trim below the drivers door handle. Pop's all the central locking and disarms the alarm apparently.

View attachment 334091

Met up with a couple of folk from Jersey just yesterday who had been broken into on their trip and he showed me exactly that “damage” to the drivers side door handle. They had stuff taken though sadly.

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[maz]

If it is a Fiat Ducato based motorhome they do not show much damage when they are broken into.

We met a couple from Sweden who had been broken into in Barcelona.

The police showed the couple how the doors were opened.

Just a little mark in the trim below the drivers door handle. Pop's all the central locking and disarms the alarm apparently.

View attachment 334091

ProPlates are designed to stop just that.

ProPlates

 

[Richard n Ann]

Front door dead locks on ours..

Highly visible from the outside means they don't even bother trying ?

 

[Jenmelmar]

Thanks so much for these comments. Ours is a 33 foot long American RV monica Riptide so the bedroom is at the back and loo next up- so we could put motion sensors at the front by the entry door and at the cabin areas. We are going to look on the Internet for alarms and door chains today. Hopefully we will get something sorted before we leave Burgundy in a of weeks ?

 

[Jaws]

Is this on official Aire de Camping Car or Motorway Aires ?

What have you had stolen ?

It was at an aire in a village. of all things they nicked our steps !

 

[Allanm]

Wow, he must have been one hell of an athlete to jump over a bike next to the front door on an RV and down about 6 feet or more, and still be able to run away!

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[Deneb]

If the "double locking" meant factory deadlocks, they can be overridden by external manipulation of the lock mechanism similar to the Ducato lock photos. Effectively it is moving the lock mechanism just as the key does when inserted and turned.

And if the alarm is a system designed to be set and unset by locking or unlocking the doors, it will also be disabled.

The best alarms use an independent means of setting such as a separate fob. Slightly more hassle to operate but much greater peace of mind ?

 

[Jenmelmar]

Thanks for this information. We are looking on the Internet to get an alarm and also a chain lock. We really want to feel confident we can sleep safely and enjoy the traveling experience- although the vision of seeing the man with his red laser light shining on us is hard to put out of your mind...

 

[Jenmelmar]

I am now 'static' with Internet for a while and read through the advice again. I can't see how to answer each individual, it just has 'report' on the left, and on the right it has 'like, quote. quote'. The only reply button I see is at the bottom. Anyway-we can now order an alarm and motion sensors and a chain lock-I don't know hoe we didn't hear someone entering but we can see there is some slight damage to the lock and it looks as if there has been something put between the door and the opening -but this will not happen again! it is such a pity that there are people around like this but we were fortunate that nothing was taken and that our bedroom door was open so I saw the red lazer light and woke up. I have made a note of the 3 sites suggested, Searchforsites, campercontact and Allmotorhome parking-so we can choose some safe sites when we leave Burgundy and travel down to Spain. Thanks again for your constructive help

 

[peterc10]

I am now 'static' with Internet for a while and read through the advice again. I can't see how to answer each individual, it just has 'report' on the left, and on the right it has 'like, quote. quote'. The only reply button I see is at the bottom. Anyway-we can now order an alarm and motion sensors and a chain lock-I don't know hoe we didn't hear someone entering but we can see there is some slight damage to the lock and it looks as if there has been something put between the door and the opening -but this will not happen again! it is such a pity that there are people around like this but we were fortunate that nothing was taken and that our bedroom door was open so I saw the red lazer light and woke up. I have made a note of the 3 sites suggested, Searchforsites, campercontact and Allmotorhome parking-so we can choose some safe sites when we leave Burgundy and travel down to Spain. Thanks again for your constructive help

To reply to an individual post, like I am doing now with your post, just click the right hand "quote". It will put a copy of the post you want to reply to in the reply box at the bottom. You can then just start typing below the quoted bit. That is what I have done

But you have now reached the limit of your free posts, so will not be able to post anymore, although you can continue to read most of the forums. If you want to post more you will need to subscribe. It is the best £15 per year you will spend on your motorhome as the forum is full of knowledgeable and helpful people.

 

[Clive Beeza]

A good plan is to purchase an imitation police hat/helmet, of the country
and as an added deterrent, a proper leather pistol holster
leave the empty holster, and helmet in subtle view, in a window or just at the bottom of the windscreen,
not even a thieving scum bag, would like even the remote chance of having a pistol stuck up his nostril, by a member of the constabulary in any country

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[Deneb]

A good plan is to purchase an imitation police hat/helmet, of the country
and for as an added deterrent, a proper leather pistol holster
leave the empty holster,nd helmet in subtle view, in a window or just at the bottom of the windscreen,
no scum bag would like, even the remote thought of having a pistol stuck up his nostril
by a member of the constabulary in any country

But the attraction of deliberately vandalising or interfering with your van or property increases by some magnitude to certain types of people if they see the items, because of who they think you are.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Have the van sign written "Red Knuckles Cage Fighting Ltd" ?or similar ?

 

[Jenmelmar]

A good plan is to purchase an imitation police hat/helmet, of the country
and as an added deterrent, a proper leather pistol holster
leave the empty holster, and helmet in subtle view, in a window or just at the bottom of the windscreen,
not even a thieving scum bag, would like even the remote chance of having a pistol stuck up his nostril, by a member of the constabulary in any country

What an interesting idea- had not thought of that ! Will certainly think on it and some of the other ideas. We do not intend for anything like that to happen again.
Thanks for the advice ?

 

[Jenmelmar]

Have the van sign written "Red Knuckles Cage Fighting Ltd" ?or similar ?

Like that ?

 

[Jenmelmar]

To reply to an individual post, like I am doing now with your post, just click the right hand "quote". It will put a copy of the post you want to reply to in the reply box at the bottom. You can then just start typing below the quoted bit. That is what I have done

But you have now reached the limit of your free posts, so will not be able to post anymore, although you can continue to read most of the forums. If you want to post more you will need to subscribe. It is the best £15 per year you will spend on your motorhome as the forum is full of knowledgeable and helpful people.

Have now subscribed, thanks ?

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[Jenmelmar]

Wow, he must have been one hell of an athlete to jump over a bike next to the front door on an RV and down about 6 feet or more, and still be able to run away!

When the door is opened, the steps come out so easy to run down them. He had moved the bike from the door entrance to against the settee, so did not have to jump over anything- just run down the steps ?

 

[JJ]

I have severe "BO" and bad breath and I am really, really lax when it comes to washing myself or doing van cleaning. My fridge is a thing of aromatic beauty.

Anyone breaking into my van at night (easily done) would never be able to stay inside long enough to actually steal anything...


JJ

 

[tacr2man]

Doesnt your Monaco have a high security deadlock fitted other than the normal key in handle type . I never used the handle one on My Ultrasport , only the deadlock , and with that locked you aren't getting in short of grinding all the hinges off . i was always not too worried about the windows as the bottom was about 8ft above the ground . You can get individual stick on alarms that use a magnetic break sensor to protect doors on lockers etc .

 

[Jenmelmar]

As an extra security feature we use a strap that goes around the door handle and the entrance hand rail on the inside, if you have one.

Yes that isa good idea- we are going to use a chain for that ?

 

[Jenmelmar]

Doesnt your Monaco have a high security deadlock fitted other than the normal key in handle type . I never used the handle one on My Ultrasport , only the deadlock , and with that locked you aren't getting in short of grinding all the hinges off . i was always not too worried about the windows as the bottom was about 8ft above the ground . You can get individual stick on alarms that use a magnetic break sensor to protect doors on lockers etc .

Thanks- we are looking into this at the moment ?

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[PeteH]

Travelling in the USA. I had Texas Plates anyway, and an NRA cap strategically placed on the front in full view.! .

 

[Jenmelmar]

Best not to use main road Aires, instead head for towns or villages. There's lots of information on the web as suggested, some are free some are not. Look out for perhaps broken glass lying around or black circles where young drivers are pulling donuts and avoid these. Always leave enough daylight for a Plan B. France has a large traveller community and these can from a distance sometimes look like Aires so be carefull in open countryside. However, France is a very safe place to be so don't be put off by your experience - it's a great country and more motorhome friendly than the UK.

We are rather limited in where we go as the vehicle is almost 10 foot wide (mirror to mirror), so we have to keep to A or D roads so far. We will check out other Aires and see what reviews they have

 

[Jenmelmar]

If as you say the vehicle was locked then in theory no one should have got in but clearly they did. Did you have a window open and how did they get out easily if there was a bike across the door?

You could check the locks actually work. Lock it as you did on the fateful night but with one of you outside who then tries to get in. Check no locks have been forced.

You can stay on motorway aires, several on here do, but they have good alarm systems fitted.

Not far from where you were is a municipal aire at Paucort which would have been much nicer. This is shown on the CamperContact app, search on the play store for All Motorhome Parking. Other apps are available, try them, but this one is probably the easiest to use.

View attachment 333804

View attachment 333803

Thanks so much-this really looks interesting. At the moment we are a bit limited as to where we go as the Riptide is rather wide (almost 10 foot from mirror to mirror) so we are keeping to A or the D roads so far. We are going to plan our route from Burgundy to Spain and check out the Aires in the app that you suggested.
We did not have any windows open or roof vents, and we had the door double locked. By looking it seems someone was able to get a lever between the door frame and the lock and click those back so the door could be opened. We are making several modifications so nothing like this could have again, hopefully! Many thanks

 

[Jenmelmar]

If there locks on the Monaco are anything like mine then they are near on useless, I chain ours from the inside plus an alarm on the door.

Thanks-that is just what we are going to do now

 

[DBK]

Thanks so much-this really looks interesting. At the moment we are a bit limited as to where we go as the Riptide is rather wide (almost 10 foot from mirror to mirror) so we are keeping to A or the D roads so far. We are going to plan our route from Burgundy to Spain and check out the Aires in the app that you suggested.
We did not have any windows open or roof vents, and we had the door double locked. By looking it seems someone was able to get a lever between the door frame and the lock and click those back so the door could be opened. We are making several modifications so nothing like this could have again, hopefully! Many thanks

The CamperContact app does in theory show the maximum length for each aire but you need to take this with a pinch of salt. See the bottom line in the screenshot below.

For example, where we are now is apparently limited to 9m but you could park a big articulated truck here. It also says there are only 5 places but there is room for dozens.

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