Intruder in van whilst sleeping

[Donnieliz]

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.

 

[pelican]

If you slept through the whole thing, how did you know it was 0340h the robbery occurred?

Craig

Alarm on Rolex?

 

[chaser]

If you slept through the whole thing, how did you know it was 0340h the robbery occurred?

Craig

And know the German woman was screaming, I am not disbeleaving it happened but just one or two things haven't been explained very well.

 

[Saucer]

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

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.

Looks like quite a faff to get them on Jim, if you are referring to the plates to stop the locks being popped

 

[Barriesimpson]

Alarm on Rolex?

Rolex do not have alarms, well not the real ones.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Langtoftlad]

Rolex do not have alarms, well not the real ones.

Whoosh

 

[Barriesimpson]

Whoosh

Yes, I did actually get it

 

[PaulW2]

Looks like quite a faff to get them on Jim, if you are referring to the plates to stop the locks being popped

I've actually just ordered a set of what Jim was referring to (excluding the anti-popping plates).

It looks quite ingenious. Each item (for the cab doors, sliding door and rear doors) just prevents the door from being opened more than a fraction if the lock is popped. That is where I think the alarm would take over.

I haven't ordered the cab door lock plate - I think the door movement limiting mechanisms plus the Van Bitz alarm should provide enough security for when we're in the van.

When we're not in the alarm, non-starter and tracker should hopefully suffice for most purposes. And also without causing the person trying to break in to wreck the van in the attempt.

 

[Jim]

Looks like quite a faff to get them on Jim, if you are referring to the plates to stop the locks being popped

No the sliding door and cab doors are secured (and removed) in a jiffy. As are the back doors. All the kit stays in place, out of the way, ready to be used.

 

[Jim]

All locks are (look up lock picking lawyer on youtube) in general pickable.

They might be, but I've never known a motorhome stolen by lock picking, or a car for that matter.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[pelican]

Rolex do not have alarms, well not the real ones.

Mine did

 

[3crispies]

Where did you get them from thanks as I had never seen them before

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/28612671...pid=5339023013&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1

stickers there too, apologies for delay

 

[3crispies]

You got a link please

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/28612671...pid=5339023013&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1
but as already linked...

 

[Azteccamper]

I’ve seen a couple of high end camper vans with these. Might be worth a look.

Home - VanGuardian

We Offer Services In London, Scotland,Northern Ireland & Wales.

vanguardian.co.uk

 

[PlacidoD]

I find this thread food for thought. Does this break in problem just happen on aires and other cheap pitch ups.
I have been motor homing in Europe for about 30 years and the only time that we were ever disturbed was in a secluded car park overnight on way to ferry port(UK)
I think it would be very rare for this on a campite.

See my post #27 on the same subject

Several posts in this thread also raise the subject of break-ins when not in use. I wonder about the relative merits of storing on the drive at home versus supposedly secure storage?

Mine sits on the drive. That has the disadvantage that it is obvious when I am away to any ne're-do-well but equally that tells my neighbours to keep a look out.

Are there any insurance statistics on either of these issues?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Burge]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/18656110...pid=5339023013&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1

 

[Fragle]

I’ve seen a couple of high end camper vans with these. Might be worth a look.

Home - VanGuardian

We Offer Services In London, Scotland,Northern Ireland & Wales.

vanguardian.co.uk

Good idea and fairly cheap. But I'd only use them as an addition to Vanbitz raptor to maybe help prevent some damage to cab and habitation doors.

Maybe AshVanBitz could look at something similar linked to the Raptor ? Just a thought

 

[Miggs]

How do you mount the plate to attach the carabiner to for the cab doors?

Never mind, was looking at the sliding door one. All is clear, shame about the price though

 

[PaulW2]

I’ve seen a couple of high end camper vans with these. Might be worth a look.

Home - VanGuardian

We Offer Services In London, Scotland,Northern Ireland & Wales.

vanguardian.co.uk

Given that it relies on an accelerometer I wonder how that will work if it’s armed and you’re in the van. Let’s say sleeping in the back of a PVC and you touch the rear door. Does it sound the alarm?

 

[nicholsong]

I’ve seen a couple of high end camper vans with these. Might be worth a look.

Home - VanGuardian

We Offer Services In London, Scotland,Northern Ireland & Wales.

vanguardian.co.uk

It sounds as though that system is designed for commercial vehicles which are unoccupied, so maybe not so suitable for campers/MHs.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Lenny HB]

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.

Sounds normal to me.

 

[scotzsue]

Lenny HB thanks, I'm not often described as normal

 

[Langtoftlad]

It sounds as though that system is designed for commercial vehicles which are unoccupied, so maybe not so suitable for campers/MHs.

The video specifically talks about moving around a motorhome won't set off the alarm, nor will rocking...

 

[jerryz]

Of course an intruder is always an invitation for a free meal ,,,, so long as your not a veggie and can do a bit of basic butchering ,,,, Long Pig anyone ????

 

[Russ N Tracey]

It's really bad to hear, our sympathies go out to you. we use the camper protect chains they are brilliant very discreet, no drilling, easy to use and seem very secure.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[jerryz]

im getting a pair of those camper protect cab door lock plates , but what about the Habitation door ????

I was attacked in outskirts of Bordeaux last year but it was broad daylight and in transit so security locks and any alrms would have made no difference ,, ruined my holiday if you all remember , , they damaged my motorcycle , and trailer ,, hit me and stabbed a French guy who came to my aid, he is OK ,, Police did not catch them although they did not manage to steal anything from me......Dont know if it was attempted robbery,or Hijack or what ..

I hope this year if my health and confidence is ok to do trips in UK from May ?and maybe Europe in September ?????

 

[plug]

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.

It sounds to me you might have been done with knock out gas if both of you didn’t wake up this seems to be a on going problem in Europe, did ether one of you feel groggy the next day.
Glade you are both safe.

 

[Neckender]

It's really bad to hear, our sympathies go out to you. we use the camper protect chains they are brilliant very discreet, no drilling, easy to use and seem very secure.

Have you a link to those chains please?

 

[Burge]

It sounds to me you might have been done with knock out gas if both of you didn’t wake up this seems to be a on going problem in Europe, did ether one of you feel groggy the next day.
Glade you are both safe.

Mate of mine was done like that a few yrs back....Both woke with Headache to find there money gone on Day 1 of a fortnight trip to France.

 

[PaulW2]

Have you a link to those chains please?

Jim’s post #2 above has the link

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[VXman]

I have a fairly middle of the road Gemini alarm. It will trigger the siren when cab doors, hab door or garage doors are opened. We set the alarm but disabled the internal sensors at night. I have set the alarm off enough times when I open the garage door without turning it off to know it is loud. I cannot see any potential thief carrying on after that if they are thinking there is someone inside sleeping. i.e. on a campsite/aire.

Parked somewhere with no one in might be a different matter as they could probable disable the alarm reasonably quickly.