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

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[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?

 

[Fidge]

Just get yourself a strap and loop it round the door handles and horn. If anyone gets in then the horn blows. We also wrap a steel chain round for added security. The hab door has a simple piece of wood fitted inside the mechanism which prevents movement. It’s a Compass 400 but most doors have similar mechanisms.Easily removed from the inside yet impossible to open the door from the outside. An attempt to rob us happened at Sete aire and we thought it was joyriders.

We loop a strap through the door handles too but how do you rap it round the horn as well. I'd like to do it.

 

[Minxy]

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

Dogs are no guarantee of being alerted, we can move around in our MH and they continue to snore their heads off!

 

[nicholsong]

Reading through this thread, if I had cab doors "which thank the Lord I've not Sir", I think I would weld them shut - would seem to solve a lot of problems of worrying about how to secure them.

We manage with just the Hab door, but are pleased that is just behind the driver's seat and not at the back. Also reduces the security worry to the one door.

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[Zentex]

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.

Thank you for drawing our attention to this and the obvious fallibility of the locks - and sorry you had to go through such an invasion of your personal space whilst you were sleeping , having been burgled at home I know how that feels like. Happy it has raised some solutions from other funsters which I now will implement

 

[JamesT@Dundee]

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.

Hi Jim,

Just looking at their "proplates" - concerned about the ease of inner door trim. Did you do this and how easy (or otherwise) was it?

Thanks
James

 

[PaulW2]

Hi Jim,

Just looking at their "proplates" - concerned about the ease of inner door trim. Did you do this and how easy (or otherwise) was it?

Thanks
James

I've bought the 'range' - restraints for cab doors, van sliding door and rear door - but not their 'proplate' version for that reason.

The parts look well-made and they fit well and so far I'm happy with them. If someone was to pop the driver's side cab door the restraint will prevent the door from being opened by more than a fraction and the alarm would alert us and the world of the goings on.

I've looked at some videos on how to fit the proplates and while it looks do-able it also struck me as a bit of a faff, with potential risk of cosmetic damage if errors are made.

And while the proplates would protect against the screwdriver method (from which I now have some protection anyway) they wouldn't protect any other doors.

 

[Phill D]

Hi Jim,

Just looking at their "proplates" - concerned about the ease of inner door trim. Did you do this and how easy (or otherwise) was it?

Thanks
James

It’s a straight forward job but a bit tricky in places, you would need a set of plastic facia removal tools to minimise any damage to panels.
There are videos on YouTube on the process.

 

[Mleabon]

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.

I have deadlocks on the front fitted by Sussex installations and a steel plate. I also secure the hab door with a caravan tether cable. I sometimes put the alarm on too depending on how I feel about the location.

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[Howard B]

Hi Jim,

Just looking at their "proplates" - concerned about the ease of inner door trim. Did you do this and how easy (or otherwise) was it?

Thanks
James

Bought a similar one from ebay for £10. Fitted to my drivers door yesterday. Took less than an hour. Just watch the you tube videos for explanation on fitting.

 

[pelican]

After reading all the preventive options isn't it easier and far less stressful to use campsites.
We use them all of the time we are travelling. Over 30 yrs and only had one attempted intrusion, That was in Devon!

 

[chaser]

After reading all the preventive options isn't it easier and far less stressful to use campsites.
We use them all of the time we are travelling. Over 30 yrs and only had one attempted intrusion, That was in Devon!

We have been all over the place for over 12 years and because , as I have described in another thread we have never even locked the doors at night when we are in bed because it sets the alarm off, and apart from that guy last month we have never had any problems, and he actually got in when it was locked when we weren't in it.