Intruder in van whilst sleeping

D

Donnieliz

Joined
Apr 28, 2016
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Tain Ross-Shire Scotland
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42,780
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Lunar. Champ 591
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One year
We were in Carcassonne last week on a camping car aire and about 3.40 in the morning we were robbed, the thief must of been fully in our motor home to reach the table where our two phones and one laptop were, the laptop was hidden behind the back of the bench seat (the m/h is rear fixed bed) he also opened my wife’s bag and removed €500. We slept through the whole thing
(Neither of us drink so I can’t blame that) I could not believe how easy it was to pick the lock (driver’s door) just a slight dent on the key hole. My question is and it’s a bit of horse and stable door thing how good are the Fiamma door locks or should I make some sort of dead lock inside and beef up the habitation door lock or locks. I don’t want to use a ratchet strap between doors I was thinking more of a simple hook and eye and some proprietary locks for the habitation door. Sorry for the long winded post.
 
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Scary stuff. I've slept on motorway aires all over Europe without an incident, but I've always have additional locks fitted, things like straps through doors and internal bolts etc. As well as having an alarm.

Presently in my panel van, I use a full set of door limiters from these guys

camperprotect

www.camperprotect.de www.camperprotect.de

Simple cheap and effective. This is the type of thing you should be using. Having a stranger in your van must be upsetting to say the least.
 
Upvote 1
Donnieliz said:
We were in Carcassonne last week on a camping car aire and about 3.40 in the morning we were robbed, the thief must of been fully in our motor home to reach the table where our two phones and one laptop were, the laptop was hidden behind the back of the bench seat (the m/h is rear fixed bed) he also opened my wife’s bag and removed €500. We slept through the whole thing
(Neither of us drink so I can’t blame that) I could not believe how easy it was to pick the lock (driver’s door) just a slight dent on the key hole. My question is and it’s a bit of horse and stable door thing how good are the Fiamma door locks or should I make some sort of dead lock inside and beef up the habitation door lock or locks. I don’t want to use a ratchet strap between doors I was thinking more of a simple hook and eye and some proprietary locks for the habitation door. Sorry for the long winded post.
Click to expand...
All locks are (look up lock picking lawyer on youtube) in general pickable.

The best bet is a alarm with sensors to detect the door opening or motion. So you get woke up and scare them away (but also have big flashing LED's to put them off in first place). I would wager as many would be put off by the flashing light as anything.

So if you want cheap put a flashing Red or Blue LED under the van by the doors. If you want expensive do an alarm.

I wouldn't sleep at night personally with just locks of any type, given near all locks are pickable. You can get a second set of locks for top of door if you really want to, but you see vans with those often broken into overnight too (not when people sleeping in them).

You may also want to look at the doorjam protection pieces, usually called Pro plates for Fiat cabs -> these stop you literally being able to open the doro without even picking just by putting a screwdriver in the right place.

So my advice is a alarm, proplates. Also there is a reason many of us have dogs, if you have a small furry aminal it acts as a great deterrant, as most theives wont want biting. Keep a dog bowl outside your rear door even if you don't have a dog, again as a detterance perhaps.
 
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I would second the view that an alarm is the best primary defense ...... we usually set ours just to be on the safe side.

If your Moho is ducato based, then some protection for the door locks is a good idea. I prefer external protection (proplates) as it might prevent a thief attempting to enter and cause damage, rather than straps - which they may only discover once they're damaged the door.
 
Upvote 1
Ernesto said:
I would second the view that an alarm is the best primary defense ...... we usually set ours just to be on the safe side.
Click to expand...
I think people are often of opinion alarms are to protect against people egttig in when you NOT in the van. The primary use case in my head for them is when sleeping, as nothing wakes us, but I can tell you the alarm we have would (it is very loud, and is trigged by sensors in each door, and each locker when sleeping (the motion sensor is obviously off when you sleeping). So even if they defeat the lock by picking it, they still find a very loud noise moment the door opens.

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Upvote 0
Are these sort of 'break ins' mainly in vans with separate bedrooms?
 
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Totally concur with Jim, the chains from camper protect are dead easy to install and would also then make a noise if the thief opened your door an inch,

All for about £30.

They do prick locks too, and ECU locks…
 
Upvote 0
Sorry to hear about the theft.
Frightening, it could be any one of us!

I think the only realistic solutions when sleeping in public places are:
  • 'Pro-Plates' on the front doors, which will stop the simple hole method of opening the doors.
  • A (house type) deadlock on the hab door (Abus do a range for motorhomes, about £100)
  • That said, every motorhome should be fitted with a AIT (Alarm/Immobiliser/Tracker) system.
Many of us have the VanBitz alarm system.
Specifically designed for motorhomes.

My VanBitz alarm has a simple switch so that we can switch the alarm between outside only (All doors and lockers) and Outside and Inside (Plus PIR inside to detect movement).

In addition it comes with an alarm loop, a simple long length of bell-wire that you thread through bikes on the rack, and/or deck chairs, table, BBQ, etc so you don't have to clear them away every time you leave the site.
(If the loop is cut or disconnected the alarm goes off)

The VanBitz system has very visible blue LED's mounted front, back and side.
The LED's can be set (with another simple internal switch) to Bright (daytime use or dodgy aires) or Dim (when on your driveway or in storage)
 
Upvote 0
Nice cheap option for alarms are the personal attack alarms, fit loop on to door and body on to column where seatbelts are fixed, if anyone opens door it will pull cord out and set off alarm. We used these in our first van that didn’t have alarm, had the Vanbitz on all vans since.
 
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LesW said:
Are these sort of 'break ins' mainly in vans with separate bedrooms?
Click to expand...
No, they are usually/mostly the opportunist types that also target work vans (and trucks, and trailers) with the same tooling. They'd break into any van parked unless there is obvious visable security. As mentioned before proplates or similar will help in stopping damage to your van as they are smart enough to recognise that their screwdriver entry through the chassis method will fail with these (proplates are obvious when fitted as they are designed to be visable to the thiefs).

Worth noting thogh for orignal poster on most Ducato/Peogeot vans you only need to fit the proplates on the driver side (where there is a keyhole) as the mechanism the theives use does not exist on the passenger side. Obviously which side to fit depends on if LHD or RHD vehicle.

You can always tell the Vanbitz alarm when you are out and about around UK and Abroad. It is surprisinly popular, as the Blue LEDs make it obvious (I suspect to the theives too) who has good defence.

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Upvote 0
Donnieliz said:
We were in Carcassonne last week on a camping car aire and about 3.40 in the morning we were robbed, the thief must of been fully in our motor home to reach the table where our two phones and one laptop were, the laptop was hidden behind the back of the bench seat (the m/h is rear fixed bed) he also opened my wife’s bag and removed €500. We slept through the whole thing
(Neither of us drink so I can’t blame that) I could not believe how easy it was to pick the lock (driver’s door) just a slight dent on the key hole. My question is and it’s a bit of horse and stable door thing how good are the Fiamma door locks or should I make some sort of dead lock inside and beef up the habitation door lock or locks. I don’t want to use a ratchet strap between doors I was thinking more of a simple hook and eye and some proprietary locks for the habitation door. Sorry for the long winded post.
Click to expand...
Didn't the alarm screaming wake you up?
 
Upvote 0
starquake said:
No, they are usually/mostly the opportunist types that also target work vans (and trucks, and trailers) with the same tooling. They'd break into any van parked unless there is obvious visable security. As mentioned before proplates or similar will help in stopping damage to your van as they are smart enough to recognise that their screwdriver entry through the chassis method will fail with these (proplates are obvious when fitted as they are designed to be visable to the thiefs).

Worth noting thogh for orignal poster on most Ducato/Peogeot vans you only need to fit the proplates on the driver side (where there is a keyhole) as the mechanism the theives use does not exist on the passenger side. Obviously which side to fit depends on if LHD or RHD vehicle.

You can always tell the Vanbitz alarm when you are out and about around UK and Abroad. It is surprisinly popular, as the Blue LEDs make it obvious (I suspect to the theives too) who has good defence.
Click to expand...
I like the sound of the pro plates the van is Ducato base but 2006 so has key locks on both doors.. Thanks

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Upvote 0
starquake said:
I think people are often of opinion alarms are to protect against people egttig in when you NOT in the van. The primary use case in my head for them is when sleeping, as nothing wakes us, but I can tell you the alarm we have would (it is very loud, and is trigged by sensors in each door, and each locker when sleeping (the motion sensor is obviously off when you sleeping). So even if they defeat the lock by picking it, they still find a very loud noise moment the door opens.
Click to expand...
OK So a scumbag creeping around surreptitiously late at night doesn't want to get caught, which is why he is creeping around surreptitiously late at night, because if he didn't care, he'd be banging on the door demanding money possibly with a weapon.

So, late, looking for a potential target, completely randomly, just an easy target.

There are ten motorhomes in an Aire, nine appear to be unalarmed or the alarm isn't activated, one has high intensity LED's dotted about the motorhome, the eBikes on the back are locked, but there is, what appears to be a accessory protection security loop (like you see around the expensive stuff in Curry's) and there are multi lingual security warning stickers waring that the motorhome has a sophisticated security system installed, why would our thief, who is creeping around quietly choose to attempt to break into the one motorhome in ten that appears to be well protected, risking not only waking the occupants, but potentially the occupants of the other motorhomes, who may for example be friends and family, massively increasing the risk of a serious beating!

If you are broken into, logic dictates that you won't be done first, or even at all!

Don't forget in the wild you don't have to be able to out run a raging Grizzly Bear!

You just need to be able to outrun the slowest member in your party!

Angry On My Way GIF by Cocaine Bear
 
Upvote 0
Donnieliz said:
We were in Carcassonne last week on a camping car aire and about 3.40 in the morning we were robbed, the thief must of been fully in our motor home to reach the table where our two phones and one laptop were, the laptop was hidden behind the back of the bench seat (the m/h is rear fixed bed) he also opened my wife’s bag and removed €500. We slept through the whole thing
(Neither of us drink so I can’t blame that) I could not believe how easy it was to pick the lock (driver’s door) just a slight dent on the key hole. My question is and it’s a bit of horse and stable door thing how good are the Fiamma door locks or should I make some sort of dead lock inside and beef up the habitation door lock or locks. I don’t want to use a ratchet strap between doors I was thinking more of a simple hook and eye and some proprietary locks for the habitation door. Sorry for the long winded post.
Click to expand...
Scumbags..hope they get what they deserve..
My alarm has got big teeth.....

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Upvote 0
eddie said:
OK So a scumbag creeping around surreptitiously late at night doesn't want to get caught, which is why he is creeping around surreptitiously late at night, because if he didn't care, he'd be banging on the door demanding money possibly with a weapon.

So, late, looking for a potential target, completely randomly, just an easy target.

There are ten motorhomes in an Aire, nine appear to be unalarmed or the alarm isn't activated, one has high intensity LED's dotted about the motorhome, the eBikes on the back are locked, but there is, what appears to be a accessory protection security loop (like you see around the expensive stuff in Curry's) and there are multi lingual security warning stickers waring that the motorhome has a sophisticated security system installed, why would our thief, who is creeping around quietly choose to attempt to break into the one motorhome in ten that appears to be well protected, risking not only waking the occupants, but potentially the occupants of the other motorhomes, who may for example be friends and family, massively increasing the risk of a serious beating!

If you are broken into, logic dictates that you won't be done first, or even at all!

Don't forget in the wild you don't have to be able to out run a raging Grizzly Bear!

You just need to be able to outrun the slowest member in your party!

Angry On My Way GIF by Cocaine Bear
Click to expand...

Eddie everyone knows you should never try to outrun a Grizzly, “if it’s brown, lie down”😂 from the famous bear rhyme.
 
Upvote 0
Clewie68 said:
Maybe a piece of string attached to a bell or something that will make a noise when the door is pulled open a few inches.
Click to expand...
There is a special type of "string" called "wire" and when attached to a "bell" or as we call them Sirens, makes a noise when the door is opened

Is that the type of thing your thinking about?(y)

We call them "motorhome alarms" :rofl: ;)
 
Upvote 0
eddie said:
There is a special type of "string" called "wire" and when attached to a "bell" or as we call them Sirens, makes a noise when the door is opened

Is that the type of thing your thinking about?(y)

We call them "motorhome alarms" :rofl: ;)
Click to expand...
You are missing a trick here, a new product for the cheaper end of the market!
You could sell the entire kit on line in a large box for £25 + P&P.

An instruction sheet with diagrams of where to attach the string.
A short roll of paracord in a bright colour

And then three bell options:
  • A couple of small cat bells for the cheap end.
  • A Dutch cycle bell mounted on the steering wheel with the lever attached to the door for the mid range.
  • With the option of going for the full Swiss Cow Bell upgrade for an extra £10.
 
Upvote 1
Am I odd? I take my keys phone tablet handbag to bed with me and put them in a locker above my head and also under my pillow. Overgarage bed doubt anyone could climb up there without waking me, but hole i never have to find out.
 
Upvote 0
My sympathies to the OP.

Can I take a slightly different tack to security with a question. Are campsites generally more secure than aires? As a broad generalisation I would expect so?
Very few campsites if any will be maned with personnel overnight but a toilet block gives rise to the chance of motorhome owners visiting the facilities and secure boundary fencing etc, etc is more likely.
Campsites tend to be in slightly more remote locations. Many aires are fairly central to small communities where passing scroates may happen by!

I often leave my Ebike out overnight (locked and chained up of course) on a decent campsite. I doubt I ever have or would do that on a zero facilities aire.
 
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A milenco door lock would prevent niff naffs getting through the Hab door.
Similar in looks to the Fiammi, it's difference is that it can be operated from the inside of the van.

1743083512556.webp
 
Upvote 1
Very sorry to hear of such an intrusion it must have been frightening when you discovered the loss.
If it’s the Decato type of cab pass the seat belt up through the door pull
And click it into the anchor point. This works with the seats turned or otherwise,
The door cannot be opened enough to gain entry.
Hope you can put it behind you and enjoy the rest of your holidays.
 
Upvote 0
PlacidoD said:
My sympathies to the OP.

Can I take a slightly different tack to security with a question. Are campsites generally more secure than aires? As a broad generalisation I would expect so?
Very few campsites if any will be maned with personnel overnight but a toilet block gives rise to the chance of motorhome owners visiting the facilities and secure boundary fencing etc, etc is more likely.
Campsites tend to be in slightly more remote locations. Many aires are fairly central to small communities where passing scroates may happen by!

I often leave my Ebike out overnight (locked and chained up of course) on a decent campsite. I doubt I ever have or would do that on a zero facilities aire.
Click to expand...
I guess if I were taking bets on it, then yes I’d expect campsites to be lower risk…. But everywhere is safe, until it isnt.

It doesnt cost much really, to make your own van much less attractive to thieves
 
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