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.

 

[Phill D]

The bear analogy is a myth, apparently bears will keep hunting everyone in the party.

Only after they have eaten their fill of the first caught! By which time you should be long gone and alerted.

 

[Happy Jack]

Deadlocks are normally for securing your van while you are away from it.
If your deadlocks are activated on all but 1 door no matter which one it is you have only 1 escape route.

 

[Howard B]

Deadlocks are normally for securing your van while you are away from it.
If your deadlocks are activated on all but 1 door no matter which one it is you have only 1 escape route.

We would only need one escape route. Where ever we are inside the MH, going out of the Hab door is the quickest & easiest way out. It would be a royal pain trying to get through the cab doors in our MH when parked up even if the deadlocks werent engaged.

 

[Barriesimpson]

So what was she screaming about then ?

She was woken up by the break-in next door and saw her husband in bed next to her....

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[Backlanes]

Really sorry to hear of your frightening experience Donnielitz. I hope you are able to regain your confidence and enjoy the rest of your holiday. Remember it was your van they attacked, not you.

Looking at it statistically, now that your van has been a target the chances of it being targeted again are very low.

 

[Barriesimpson]

Look at Van Guardian, absolutely amazing and so easy to install, gives zonal protection and is a visible deterrent too.

Home - VanGuardian

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

vanguardian.co.uk

That is just what I was looking for. Thanks for the heads up akadingbat I will order this kit.

 

[Happy Jack]

We would only need one escape route. Where ever we are inside the MH, going out of the Hab door is the quickest & easiest way out. It would be a royal pain trying to get through the cab doors in our MH when parked up even if the deadlocks werent engaged.

And when the Fire service needed to get you out when the van is on it's side on the only door not locked?

 

[Puddleduck]

And when the Fire service needed to get you out when the van is on it's side on the only door not locked?

They go though the windows or the side wall.

 

[Howard B]

And when the Fire service needed to get you out when the van is on it's side on the only door not locked?

Why would our van be on its side?

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[Puddleduck]

Why would our van be on its side?

After an accident or storm?

 

[nicholsong]

And when the Fire service needed to get you out when the van is on it's side on the only door not locked?

If a fireman's axe or my foot cannot break an acrylic window we are not worth our salt. If MH on its side, I would choose our rear window - nearly full width, so one could just walk out, not climb.

I note that security of doors seems to be more of a concern for PVCs (5 doors) and coachbuilts (3 doors) than A Class owners (Usually 1, max 2 doors) who do not seemed to be represented on threads like this very much.

 

[Happy Jack]

Why would our van be on its side?

Maybe the van monster dun it.

 

[Happy Jack]

They go though the windows or the side wall.

Yes, but woudn't it be quicker if a door was available?

 

[tonysuvla]

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.

Wow! Scary stuff. When I read out your post to my wife her immediate reaction was “get a dog”

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[Burge]

That is just what I was looking for. Thanks for the heads up akadingbat I will order this kit.

Have a look at this.

 

[Laughing Gravy]

Condolences to the OP - horrible experience.

Re the products to secure your doors. Very interesting - I didn't know about them. I've had a look and added up the costs of the items I would need for my PVC. It comes to about € 170. Quite possibly cheap at the price etc, but still...

And if you have all the bits installed then they simply come through the plastic windows, don't they?

The serious question there is who is the raving lunatic who breaks in with the visible alarm on (Van Bitz Growler in my case), then continues to burgle or attack you when the banshee wail of the alarm is going on?

That is surely not a man who is going to be deterred. Certainly not by a mere plastic window or possibly even by a Hydra-Shok round.

Now before I go to get a quote for payload-limiting bullet proof windows I just need to consider whether this Terminator burglar really exists. Has anyone had any experience of him?

Nope

 

[Barriesimpson]

Have a look at this.

Excellent, thanks.

 

[nigel dewbery]

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.

The growler has dropped people trying to get into our Moho twice in six years, it also tells you where anybody tried to get in

 

[Jim]

It sounds to me you might have been done with knock out gas

I wrote an article about how to defend yourself from Motorhome Gas Attacks.

Motorhome Gas Attacks And What You Can Do About Them - MotorhomeFun

"Worried about motorhome gas attacks? Simple tips to protect yourself from theft while travelling in Europe.

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

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[Jim]

The growler has dropped people trying to get into our Moho

That sounds like a great alarm Nigel, as we all get older it stops us having to drop them

 

[Barriesimpson]

I wrote an article about how to defend yourself from Motorhome Gas Attacks.

Motorhome Gas Attacks And What You Can Do About Them - MotorhomeFun

"Worried about motorhome gas attacks? Simple tips to protect yourself from theft while travelling in Europe.

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

In that article, which is very informative, you mention the list '€2.000 and an iPad' but you forgot to mention the Rolex watch, which surprises me. You might want to amend that list

 

[Jim]

In that article, which is very informative, you mention the list '€2.000 and an iPad' but you forgot to mention the Rolex watch, which surprises me. You might want to amend that list

They are not stolen so much these days as everyone has one

 

[Barriesimpson]

They are not stolen so much these days as everyone has one

Yes, that's true, after all the ones that were stolen.

 

[SarahBattyll]

Crimewatch end of show statement needed here....'don't worry...sleep well...etc etc'
You'd be better off locking the doors but for 99.99% of the time, you'll be fine...especially if your dog is very likely to bark

Thank you - that was reassuring

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[lorger]

The growler has dropped people trying to get into our Moho twice in six years, it also tells you where anybody tried to get in

You must have the added extra of security guards with yours

Ours didn’t stop them forcing the window but it did scare them off once the opened the door.

 

[Basildog]

We would only need one escape route. Where ever we are inside the MH, going out of the Hab door is the quickest & easiest way out. It would be a royal pain trying to get through the cab doors in our MH when parked up even if the deadlocks werent engaged.

I actually don’t think most people can actually comprehend the concept of a real fire .
Waking up half asleep in a smoke filled toxic environment, those that think a couple of seconds wouldn’t make a difference are delusional in my opinion.
Seeing how close together many park overnight you want every possible direction available for escape, even the six metre rule when observed is only to help protect life not property.

 

[Howard B]

I actually don’t think most people can actually comprehend the concept of a real fire .
Waking up half asleep in a smoke filled toxic environment, those that think a couple of seconds wouldn’t make a difference are delusional in my opinion.
Seeing how close together many park overnight you want every possible direction available for escape, even the six metre rule when observed is only to help protect life not property.

if that was aimed at me, i have a pretty good idea.

 

[SMB]

And when the Fire service needed to get you out when the van is on it's side on the only door not locked?

If the explosion has blown the van onto its side I wouldn't fancy my chances if I was in the vehicle at the time. If in an A-class landing on the non cab door side either

 

[SMB]

I actually don’t think most people can actually comprehend the concept of a real fire .
Waking up half asleep in a smoke filled toxic environment, those that think a couple of seconds wouldn’t make a difference are delusional in my opinion.
Seeing how close together many park overnight you want every possible direction available for escape, even the six metre rule when observed is only to help protect life not property.

If I woke up and there was a fire in the van whilst I was in the rear fixed bed I'd probably be out of the window next to me unless the garage or bed was on fire!

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[PaulW2]

If I woke up and there was a fire in the van whilst I was in the rear fixed bed I'd probably be out of the window next to me unless the garage or bed was on fire!

How can we sleep while our beds are burning?