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.

 

[enark]

Think if the van explodes, any occupants are pretty well doomed irrespective of locks etc.

If a fire, then hopefully the smoke detector alerts the occupants who can escape in time. Thankfully most soft furnishings etc in modern vans will be suitably fore retardant to limit spread - but housekeeping and basic fore safety is in the occupants gift?

Clearly ash trays, tee lights, amateur electrical or gas installations, explosives, wood burners etc should be carefully monitored.

 

[SMB]

How can we sleep while our beds are burning?

It's killed many a smoker but I was trying to make a point regarding a previous post

 

[The Saints]

I think Paul was referring to Midnight Oil...!

 

[PaulW2]

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.

That would on reflection be a really good argument for why every motorhome should be a PVC.

There are (usually) four exits - rear doors, sliding door, cab doors - and you are always close to one. Wherever the fire breaks out, there is an exit in the other direction.

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[Richard n Ann]

That would on reflection be a really good argument for why every motorhome should be a PVC.

There are (usually) four exits - rear doors, sliding door, cab doors - and you are always close to one. Wherever the fire breaks out, there is an exit in the other direction.

Smoke would kill first and smoke never blocks an exit route.

By the time the flames are blocking an exit you're dead.

 

[PaulW2]

Smoke would kill first and smoke never blocks an exit route.

By the time the flames are blocking an exit you're dead.

I wonder how that works with motorhomes - the relationship between flame size and toxic gas and smoke emissions.

It's obviously the case that sometimes the smoke gets you before the flames are very large (eg many domestic fires) and sometimes the flames get very large very quickly (eg petrol, gas).

This one for instance looked like an explosive event followed by runaway flames

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/03/us/video/rv-catch-fire-injuring-3-wbz-afill-digvid

 

[Puddleduck]

I wonder how that works with motorhomes - the relationship between flame size and toxic gas and smoke emissions.

It's obviously the case that sometimes the smoke gets you before the flames are very large (eg many domestic fires) and sometimes the flames get very large very quickly (eg petrol, gas).

This one for instance looked like an explosive event followed by runaway flames

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/03/us/video/rv-catch-fire-injuring-3-wbz-afill-digvid

Shudder

 

[Richard n Ann]

I wonder how that works with motorhomes - the relationship between flame size and toxic gas and smoke emissions.

It's obviously the case that sometimes the smoke gets you before the flames are very large (eg many domestic fires) and sometimes the flames get very large very quickly (eg petrol, gas).

This one for instance looked like an explosive event followed by runaway flames

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/03/us/video/rv-catch-fire-injuring-3-wbz-afill-digvid

Looked like a gas explosion.. That would blow the windows out for you

 

[Jim]

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

I just added this graphic to the article so you might understand the dangers of Motorhome Gas Attacks and to save you any embarrassing photographs in the press

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

 

[SVMC15]

That would on reflection be a really good argument for why every motorhome should be a PVC.

There are (usually) four exits - rear doors, sliding door, cab doors - and you are always close to one. Wherever the fire breaks out, there is an exit in the other direction.

My coach built has six exits. All six are silent too!

 

[PaulW2]

My coach built has six exits. All six are silent too!

The famous Swift Colander. They are well-ventilated, aren't they?