Screwdriver break-in on my Fiat Ducato Motorhome

[Two on Tour]

I like the look of these

Looks like they can only be locked from the outside.

 

[gpat]

Looks like they can only be locked from the outside.

Very true. Is that an issue?

 

[Richard n Ann]

Very true. Is that an issue?

Not for us, we sleep next to the habitation door. They are reasonably easy to fit, just a bit scarey cutting holes.

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

 

[Brianmor]

I installed one of these several months ago, really useful because they do lock on the inside

 

[Two on Tour]

Very true. Is that an issue?

I would not want to be locked in there at night and those doors be my only means of escape in the event of a fire.

I fitted Heosafe internally locked deadlocks.

<Broken link removed>

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[gpat]

Not for us, we sleep next to the habitation door. They are reasonably easy to fit, just a bit scarey cutting holes.

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

I understand what you mean now. Yes we always use the Hab door for going in and out once parked so locking them on the outside not an issue. They are a bit commercial van looking but then maybe that's a good thing. A thief could do a lot of damage and make a lot of noise trying to open the door if there was one of these. You would hope that of they had any brains this would put them off.

 

[Littlewheels]

I also have an A class double throw deadlocks fitted to hab and passenger door same to garage doors all on same key. Wasn’t prepared to pay the buttock clenching prices Hymer charge which includes the recessed plastic trims for the doors so came up with my own solution as in photos. Peter Harrison Motorhome Locks supplied and fitted the locks I did the tidy up and mods. We have 2 of the blue handled Allen keys hidden out of sight but very handy in case needed for a speedy exit.View attachment 433947View attachment 433948View attachment 433949View attachment 433950

Brilliant example of a job well done.

 

[ivorantony]

These are the locks I fitted being given a revue on you tube

 

[davidathomas42]

Have to say id never stay on a motorway servvice area or aire
Notorous for trouble youre lucky you weren't gassed and your collection of Rolex watches stolen

Gassing is NOT a thing...... An anaesthetist spends years learning how to safely put people to sleep and uses all sorts of specialist equipment. There is no readily available gas you can just knock people out with for an hour through a fridge vent on the side of a motorhome without likely killing them.

Its people who are asleep after a few shandy's and are adamant they would hear it if broken in. I must have been knocked out No.... You were pissed.

 

[Burgo]

Its possible to get broken into on sites of course. I would say it is much less probable though. Especially when many sites have CCTV now

That's got me thinking about how it may be possible to fit a couple of cheapo dashcams with flashing leds either up high up externally looking down, or internally at top of door window looking out with appropriate signage "Recordings stored remotely via WiFi", or similar...

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[mushy]

I wonder what percentage of owners have actually been broken into. You can spend hundreds of pounds trying to make sure your van is secure and then still get broken into. If you park up and go for a walk down the beach who going to take any notice of a growler ringing out. I think people get a tad paranoid about getting broke into and losing all their expensive gear when all the opportunist thief is only interested in a mobile phone and some loose change. Make sure you have adequate insurance, hide up what you can and crack on with your holiday. Anybody know how to set up a poll?

 

[MitchandJenny]

Had a break in the other night while sleeping in my MH. Burstner ixio A class

Screw driver in cab door lock 30 minutes after I went to bed

Growler Alarm eventually went off when door was opened enough but nicked my phone

Now have the lovely job of replacing lock and at the same time what can be done to increase the difficulty of this happening again

So some advice please of the following

How hard is it to fit the new lock taking into account I don't have van doors so more door internal stuff to strip down

Can you get the locks and the change the fins to code lock to current key

What would you add to make it better while on strip down

Do you know anyone who has and can do this work

Back to the two scrotes I did challenge them and they did come over and give me my phone back by leaving it on the pavement

Cheers
Graham

Well done fronting out the scrotes.
Mitch

 

[Richard n Ann]

I've said this before, but once again I'd like to take this opportunity to give heartfelt thanks to all that don't fit security devices and rely solely on insurance.
You really are taking one for the team in this selfless act of kindness, when the scrotes see my locks it's YOUR van they move onto, and if we all had deadlocks there would be no advantage in having them.

 

[Stealaway]

I can't justify all this time effort and expense.
The only item's of value in our van is my wrist watch and our phones Both always go out with us and both are beside us in bed.
Although I would be interested to know how many break-in into motorhomes day and night there are a year

 

[Two on Tour]

I can't justify all this time effort and expense.
The only item's of value in our van is my wrist watch and our phones Both always go out with us and both are beside us in bed.
Although I would be interested to know how many break-in into motorhomes day and night there are a year

You might be thinking a bit different if your MH gets broken into and nicked when abroad 1500 miles from home.

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[Richard n Ann]

I can't justify all this time effort and expense.
The only item's of value in our van is my wrist watch and our phones Both always go out with us and both are beside us in bed.
Although I would be interested to know how many break-in into motorhomes day and night there are a year

Not just the contents though, sometimes they drill a hole in the door or force something in under the handle, or of course the old favourite smash a window to open the door.

 

[Northernraider]

Gassing is NOT a thing...... An anaesthetist spends years learning how to safely put people to sleep and uses all sorts of specialist equipment. There is no readily available gas you can just knock people out with for an hour through a fridge vent on the side of a motorhome without likely killing them.

Its people who are asleep after a few shandy's and are adamant they would hear it if broken in. I must have been knocked out No.... You were pissed.

Duh


Sarcasm lost there then

 

[Stealaway]

You might be thinking a bit different if your MH gets broken into and nicked when abroad 1500 miles from home.

Breakings into a van and nicking a van is two totally different scenarios.
Besides the standard Fiat security I also have a secret engine kill switch on my van that would make it impossible to drive it away - so also not a worry.

 

[stevewagner]

HeoSafe no drilling lockable ones also available .
Waiting for a set to arrive .
They also do for A class
Or I think milenko(?) Operate from inside also
View attachment 433936

Diebstahlschutzschlösser für Fahrerhaustüren

I have these on all my doors

 

[Badknee]

These are the locks I fitted being given a revue on you tube

Weren’t those keys proven to be poor? IIRC the scrotes get in by forcing a warmed up biro pen into the shapes down the barrel or have they changed them now?

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[Otter Spotter]

I can't justify all this time effort and expense.
The only item's of value in our van is my wrist watch and our phones Both always go out with us and both are beside us in bed.
Although I would be interested to know how many break-in into motorhomes day and night there are a year

Is it not the cost of repairs and the inconvenience and possible upset that you are trying to reduce?

 

[Stealaway]

In my experience they do more damage breaking in through the extra door locks than any loss through nicking.
I wouldn't want the van nicking because of all the extras and mods I've done but any stuff
in the van is of little value

 

[Two on Tour]

These are the locks I fitted being given a revue on you tube

Weren’t those keys proven to be poor? IIRC the scrotes get in by forcing a warmed up biro pen into the shapes down the barrel or have they changed them now?

The other downside of those locks is that when they are in the locked position you have given notice to any potential thief that the MH is not occupied.

 

[Badknee]

We spend most of our time in our Moho which means most of our worldly possessions are in it and we’d like to keep it that way so if the signs, flashing lights, sirens etc persuade the scrotes to pick on someone else we‘re happy to spend our hard earned on a Strikeback Growler

 

[Badknee]

The other downside of those locks is that when they are in the locked position you have given notice to any potential thief that the MH is not occupied.

That’s true, there’s a few that are like that.

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[eurajohn]

These are the locks I fitted being given a revue on you tube

Sadly they have sent you the wrong security lock for the habitation door lock, that model is designed for garage / locker doors that require no access from inside.
They do make a superb version for the hab door that allows the lock to be used from inside or out, they also supply instructions in English as well as some You tube stuff, here for info https://imc-creations.com/-Anglais-

 

[Bessy765]

We have an A Class IEXO736 2019. We tie a strap between the single cab door and the seat. It won’t stop the trying but they wont get in. I haven’t worked out how to remove the trim on the cab door to replace the electric lock as it stopped working when the van was only 2 months old.we were inFrance at the time. Southdowns have the replacement lock ready for us when we have ourhab check and damp check in November.

 

[ivorantony]

That’s true, there’s a few that are like that.

That isn’t true, they can be locked from both sides, when we retire they are locked shut but by pulling the indoor handle towards you then turning it unlocks relatively easy, ( for quick escape if needed)
If you want to try with a biro then be my guest, even with the correct key it needs a firm twist to unlock,
As I said previously, it’s primarily a visual deterrent that has worked well for the last 10 years but have had other van around us broken into on two occasions,

 

[ivorantony]

Sadly they have sent you the wrong security lock for the habitation door lock, that model is designed for garage / locker doors that require no access from inside.
They do make a superb version for the hab door that allows the lock to be used from inside or out, they also supply instructions in English as well as some You tube stuff, here for info https://imc-creations.com/-Anglais-

Sadly they didn’t, if you look at the photo’s I posted you will see the habitation door both from inside and outside,
You where probably looking at the garage doors, these of course cannot be open from the inside,

 

[ivorantony]

Reposted the relevant pictures the first picture is outside habitation door with it unlocked,
Second is outside locked and third is the position of the lock shut from the inside but with the door open for clarity,

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