Milan / Italy - Ducato Poor Door Locks / Be On Your Guard.....

[gus-lopez]

they’ll just smash a window

They'd still have to climb through it on mine as the internal door locks have to be removed from the rear of the vehicle.

 

[Geo]

Just about to fit ProPlates to my 2018 X290 and I discovered these were fitted. Has anyone else seen them? Are Fiats now strengthening the door locks, and do I need to fit the ProPlates? There is of course nothing on the outside to disuade an attempt to punch a hole beneath the door lock...
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would this simple mod to make your own work ?

 

[MikeD]

They'd still have to climb through it on mine as the internal door locks have to be removed from the rear of the vehicle.

But never forget - the harder it is to get in a vehicle

And if they really, really want to get in

The more damage they cause doing it.

A friend had £700 worth of damage to his car after they nicked his stereo.

 

[thebriars]

Ford are still making the Transit and they are easier to steal l than a Mars bar from a corner shop.

What makes the Ford Transit Mk 8 so easy to steal?

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Know a few lads with Trafic and Vivaro vans that have had their tools stolen, just a screwdriver pushed through in the right place on the back door pops the lock open!!
Son and I have a Vivaro kitted that we use weekends for bikes and motorbikes and I have put a plate on the back door??

if they broke in they would only get some tools and clothing but probably do about £1k worth of damage.

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[Ernesto]

They'd still have to climb through it on mine as the internal door locks have to be removed from the rear of the vehicle.

Its a good point, but isn't there a risk that they're only going find this out, once they've trashed your window? At which point they may still try and rob the van or walk away... either way its not good news.
Everyone has their own take on this, so not trying to preach to anyone on this ...but my view is that I will do what I can to deter them from touching the van in the first place - anything after that is likely to cost me more in the long run, and unlikely to put the determined thief off

 

[MikeD]

What makes the Ford Transit Mk 8 so easy to steal?

Not being a thief but I suspect a search in "youtube" will show you.

"Peel and Steal" to gain access should be a good search option.

Then I suspect a OBD reader to reprogram and start the engine.

But I suspect all vans are easy to break into and nick if you are not bothered about damaging them.

 

[gus-lopez]

Its a good point, but isn't there a risk that they're only going find this out, once they've trashed your window?

Very true,In fact I often find I unlock the van with the remote only to be unable to get in as the door bars are still in & access is only from the side door, which has a milenco on it outside..Only having an actual lock on the drivers door a flat battery means that you could not even get in through the side door as it only works on central locking.

On mine I have rear door internal upper & lower bolts . On the outside milenco sliding locks.the front doors have 1/2" stainless steel bolts through the B pillar into the front doors. The obd reader has a steel cage & there is a pedal/clutch lock fitted along with a stop lock steering wheel lock. I use all the above when parked. There is also an alarm to be fitted along with tracker. The majority of them are only to delay attempted theft hopefully for the few seconds so allowing for my return to catch them in the act where I can then crucify them ,pour petrol over them & set them on fire,put them out & do it again , & again, & again.This is after having broken every bone in there body Then check there pockets to see whether there is enough to pay for the damage.

 

[thebriars]

Not being a thief but I suspect a search in "youtube" will show you.

"Peel and Steal" to gain access should be a good search option.

Then I suspect a OBD reader to reprogram and start the engine.

But I suspect all vans are easy to break into and nick if you are not bothered about damaging them.

I asked the question because every time Ford is mentioned we get the same old response "Ford are so easy to steal". It is interesting that the poster who made this comment earlier has not responded. Older Fords were easier to steal with the Tibbe locks but Ford no longer fit those. Its a shame some keep trotting out the same out-of-date garbage.

Frankly today Fords are no easier/harder to steal than any other chassis make, and there are spates of every type of vehicle theft being reported. "Peel and Steal" only applies to panel vans, and OBD ports an any vehicle are susceptible. Cheap battery angle grinders will defeat most types of clamps and locks.

 

[Driventemple]

would this simple mod to make your own work ?


View attachment 349790

Sorry, don't understand your comment.

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[HugoBNB]

How do you overcome the plastic cover that houses the side blinds? The videos on YT show the Thule and Heosafe being fitted to Ducato's that do not have these. Hope that makes sense. Thanks

 

[Riverbankannie]

How do you overcome the plastic cover that houses the side blinds? The videos on YT show the Thule and Heosafe being fitted to Ducato's that do not have these. Hope that makes sense. Thanks

I believe you have to cut away a bit of the blind trim. I did see it is a previous thread. I’ll go and look.


There is a photo here at post 5 on this thread

Spare wheel and lock windows

Morning , I’m due to take delivery of the WildaX constellation 3XL. I believe it has an under slung spare wheel and would like to put a wheel lock on like I used to have on my Citroen Picasso. Looking at Protect a Van I see they sell locks but concerned if they need drilling into the floor ...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Emmit]

Try this.
Posted by Yours truly (if it fits!)

We have 'Pop Up' buttons on our doors.
There is a lip on the door card where the button emerges (Fiat x244 pre 2006)
I drilled a small hole through the lip and on through the button with the button in the DOWN position. It is IMPORTANT to drill slightly to one side of the button because there is a steel rod running up the middle of the button.
That allows the insertion of a rivet through the hole and in doing so prevents the button being unlocked. We obviously have to leave the 'van through the hab. door.

Sorry the horse has bolted on the OP but it might someone.

 

[HugoBNB]

Thanks. I looked at post #5 but this relates to the external lock. The ones I am looking at are fitted to the inside of the cab doors.
I take on the comments in the forum on the security regarding the damage they do getting in when you have fitted deterrents. My personal take is that a determined thief will just smash anything to get in. But, if they see the deterrents, and we have parked somewhere busy, it will take a lot more effort. Hopefully, this will deter them. Fingers crossed.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Thanks. I looked at post #5 but this relates to the external lock. The ones I am looking at are fitted to the inside of the cab doors.
I take on the comments in the forum on the security regarding the damage they do getting in when you have fitted deterrents. My personal take is that a determined thief will just smash anything to get in. But, if they see the deterrents, and we have parked somewhere busy, it will take a lot more effort. Hopefully, this will deter them. Fingers crossed.

Sorry then, but it looks like the inside to me , with a little corner cut from the Remis blind surround.

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[WESTY66]

That's all the damage they did to a van parked next to us last year.

View media item 22801

Can they do this to an A class?

 

[MikeD]

Can they do this to an A class?

Sorry - I don't know - that was a PVC with standard Fiat locks.

 

[olsgreen]

Just checked our newly acquired 2007 Ducato and found the tell tail 'v' slot on the bottom of the locks both sides! (hence why the previous owner installed internal locks as well I guess)

I would tend to agree that visible deterrents do make it look more like you've got something to protect, but then the flip side of that is that having nothing makes you a softer target than with... Proplates for me I think and more research into the various alarm systems people have mentioned, something with a proximity warning chirp maybe?

 

[Richard n Ann]

This is our deterrent. Visable Thatcham Deadlocks.

 

[HugoBNB]

I like that solution more than the internally fitted locks. Anyone looking to break in would probably move on to something else that is easier.
I suppose you could dead-lock them on a night too and use the body door to go in and out.
Are they hard to fit?

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[Richard n Ann]

I like that solution more than the internally fitted locks. Anyone looking to break in would probably move on to something else that is easier.
I suppose you could dead-lock them on a night too and use the body door to go in and out.
Are they hard to fit?

Not for me... But then again, I am a genius ??

Cab Thatcham Deadlocks

Been fitting the N/S this afternoon for a couple of hours. It's a bit scarey taking a drill and jigsaw to your van isn't it :eek: Not finished yet, I'm going to prime the edges of the keyhole then seal round with white nemesis sealant/adhesive under the escutcheon plate. The lock...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Yes I lock us in at night, the habitation door is next to the bed in case of emergency ?

 

[HugoBNB]

That is me convinced that it us the way to go. I might have a practice run if I can persuade the local scrap yard to let me loose on a similar door before I cut into the MH.
Thanks to all for your comments.

 

[popotla]

We always fit Fiamma safe door frame locks as they come with a matched key for three locks.


In my humble opinion, Fiamma door-security devices are a fairly open invitation for someone to have a go at getting in. (I bought one, on recommendation, but ended up not fitting it.)

Anyone looking for real van security could have a word with EdLocks, near Kegworth. Excellent in every way. (Yes, I know that location isn't convenient if one lives in Cornwall or Scotland, etc. etc. etc.)

 

[Rob n manda]

I asked the question because every time Ford is mentioned we get the same old response "Ford are so easy to steal". It is interesting that the poster who made this comment earlier has not responded. Older Fords were easier to steal with the Tibbe locks but Ford no longer fit those. Its a shame some keep trotting out the same out-of-date garbage.

Frankly today Fords are no easier/harder to steal than any other chassis make, and there are spates of every type of vehicle theft being reported. "Peel and Steal" only applies to panel vans, and OBD ports an any vehicle are susceptible. Cheap battery angle grinders will defeat most types of clamps and locks.

They really are easy to get in to but wont explain on a forum.

 

[thebriars]

They really are easy to get in to but wont explain on a forum.

Rather a cop out, if its that easy it will be detailed in other areas of the web. Tell us how its done so we can take measures against it, or are you just following the Chinese whispers again, and actually don't really know.

But like any other motorhome you simply force/break a side window.

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[Deneb]

Rather a cop out, if its that easy it will be detailed in other areas of the web. Tell us how its done so we can take measures against it, or are you just following the Chinese whispers again, and actually don't really know.

But like any other motorhome you simply force/break a side window.

Rather silly to set out exact instructions on the internet, as anyone who doesn't know and is of a mind to commit to illegal behaviour can easily copy them. In general, methods tend to be passed by mouth in my experience, and few are explicitly detailed on the internet.

I would suggest Trade Vehicle Locks website as a reasonably good source of information about specific vulnerabilities. Not that they detail the methods used to compromise manufacturers' security, but they do sell products specifically designed to protect against them.

For the current Transit, note the security lock bezel and OBD lock

There may be other issues I don't know about. I've been out of the game a couple of years now, so don't get to see the thousands of compromised vehicles every year that I used to. But there were other vulnerabilities not often mentioned, such as opening the doors by a very simple method that starts off with smashing or prising the cover off an external lamp unit. No way to mitigate against that one, unless you remove the lamps and drive around illegally.

 

[Rob n manda]

Rather a cop out, if its that easy it will be detailed in other areas of the web. Tell us how its done so we can take measures against it, or are you just following the Chinese whispers again, and actually don't really know.

But like any other motorhome you simply force/break a side window.

Have you got a transit or just asking in general?

 

[thebriars]

Have you got a transit or just asking in general?

I have a Transit.

 

[HugoBNB]

That is me convinced that it us the way to go. I might have a practice run if I can persuade the local scrap yard to let me loose on a similar door before I cut into the MH.
Thanks to all for your comments.

I chickened out of drilling out the cab doors. Now have fitted Heosafe internal locks to the cab doors along with Milenco locks to the hab and garage doors. I found them all very easy to fit and they don't look bad at all. Finally, we have an appointment with eddievanbits to have a Growler fitted. This is providing we are let out to play in June ?.
Thanks again to all posters who helped me reach this point.
Stay safe and keep well.

 

[IRHP]

With all this talk of devices to stop the cab doors being opened it got me thinking. Is it just not a lot easier for a would be thief just to force open one of the flimsy plastic windows in the hab area? I tend to think if they want in they will get in. Preventing it being driven away seems a lot more important then if they mange that a well hidden tracker is next on the list.

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