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Ever wonder how they manage to break into your motorhome without leaving a mark????.....

Guest pelmetman

By Guest pelmetman
in Motorhome Matters

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colin Grand Master

colin

Posted
Posted

When the 2000 transit came out a friend who was a fleet manager asked me to test the security, actually he asked for my father but I said I'd pop over and have a look.

They had been having a problem with tools and equipment (and sometime whole vans) being stolen from parked vans, and the drivers where being blamed for leaving them open,

IIRC the first van took me about a minute to open, the second about 30secs and after that I unlocked 20 vans pretty much as fast as you could with the correct key and with no visible damage, he reported this to Ford who denied there was any problem and said I must be a master locksmith (or some such term), well I'm not and i'm certainly nowhere near as skilled as my father was at opening locks.

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PJay Grand Master

PJay

Posted
Posted

Having some-one try to break into our van a couple of years ago on a Spanish camp site, while we asleep, (fortunately I woke up, because he was shining a touch at the lock??) We have now got deadlocks on our front doors , can only open from the inside of van. We also have a deadlock on the van door, which can be locked from inside. Mind you a determined thief , will get in anywhere, but on our van only when we not in it!

 

PJay

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Dave225 Veteran

Dave225

Posted
Posted

The weak points in any motorhome or caravan are the plastic windows in the habitation area. These can often be opened with a thin blade inserted under the pane, or can even be just forced. I know some campers have fitted bars between the windows but I feel that is going too far. Also habitation doors often come with very flimsy locks, at least van models do not have them.

 

The safest option is not to leave valuables, or even carry too many valuables when you are on trips. Look as poor as you can and they may decide to try their luck on someone 'richer looking'. Also take care when parking in supermarkets. Many of us look for a distant spot as it is easier to get in and out of, but so do the thieves. In certain parts of France it is a good idea for one of you to stay with the outfit. In Spain we have often found the safest places to stop are roadside service areas that initially seem dodgy. It is only when you go inside and see the Guardia Civil sitting drinking coffee that you think, wel maybe ok after all.

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PJay Grand Master

PJay

Posted
Posted

Our van now 10 years old, so I don't think we look rich (which we are not) Two silver haired oldies !!

The most valuable items in our van likely to be all the pills we have to carry with us!! So i guess we should watch out for Junkies!!

 

PJay

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  • 3 months later...
derek pringle Mentor

derek pringle

Posted
Posted
Dave225 - 2016-05-16 4:38 PM

 

The weak points in any motorhome or caravan are the plastic windows in the habitation area. These can often be opened with a thin blade inserted under the pane, or can even be just forced. I know some campers have fitted bars between the windows but I feel that is going too far. Also habitation doors often come with very flimsy locks, at least van models do not have them.

 

The safest option is not to leave valuables, or even carry too many valuables when you are on trips. Look as poor as you can and they may decide to try their luck on someone 'richer looking'. Also take care when parking in supermarkets. Many of us look for a distant spot as it is easier to get in and out of, but so do the thieves. In certain parts of France it is a good idea for one of you to stay with the outfit. In Spain we have often found the safest places to stop are roadside service areas that initially seem dodgy. It is only when you go inside and see the Guardia Civil sitting drinking coffee that you think, wel maybe ok after all.

hi Dave225

there is a product on the market called 'lock em out' which helps keep windows secure. I have bought some about £6 each and they seem ok.

good luck

derek

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artheytrate Community Regular

artheytrate

Posted
Posted
spospe - 2016-08-27 4:04 PM

 

artheytrate - 2016-08-27 11:53 AM

 

That is why I have heosafe locks fitted in the cab of our 2014 Peugeot base motor home.

 

John.

 

John

 

Are these better than just double-locking the van?

 

Michael

 

Belt and braces I suppose Michael.

 

John.

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Caddies104 Mentor

Caddies104

Posted
Posted
derek pringle - 2016-08-27 8:26 AM

 

Dave225 - 2016-05-16 4:38 PM

 

The weak points in any motorhome or caravan are the plastic windows in the habitation area. These can often be opened with a thin blade inserted under the pane, or can even be just forced. I know some campers have fitted bars between the windows but I feel that is going too far. Also habitation doors often come with very flimsy locks, at least van models do not have them.

 

The safest option is not to leave valuables, or even carry too many valuables when you are on trips. Look as poor as you can and they may decide to try their luck on someone 'richer looking'. Also take care when parking in supermarkets. Many of us look for a distant spot as it is easier to get in and out of, but so do the thieves. In certain parts of France it is a good idea for one of you to stay with the outfit. In Spain we have often found the safest places to stop are roadside service areas that initially seem dodgy. It is only when you go inside and see the Guardia Civil sitting drinking coffee that you think, wel maybe ok after all.

hi Dave225

there is a product on the market called 'lock em out' which helps keep windows secure. I have bought some about £6 each and they seem ok.

good luck

derek

 

Found them, called ' Lock m out' at £9 each..

 

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Mike B. Mentor

Mike B.

Posted
Posted
PJay - 2016-05-17 10:46 AM

 

Our van now 10 years old, so I don't think we look rich (which we are not) Two silver haired oldies !!

The most valuable items in our van likely to be all the pills we have to carry with us!! So i guess we should watch out for Junkies!!

 

PJay

 

Wonder how much a Viagra pill is worth in Spain?

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