PAJay Posted August 29, 2018 Share Posted August 29, 2018 3 FORD motorhomes where stolen from" a secure "storage site in Waterlooville Hampshire some days ago. The thieves where able to get on line a device that will read gate codes. They where caught on camera, but had obviously been aware of them, as they had cover up with plastic bags to hide feet/hands etc, and therefore fingerprints. 1 has been recovered. Just letting any one with a Ford van to get extra locks put on as an extra measure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wasnt Me Posted August 29, 2018 Share Posted August 29, 2018 Do you know the types of motorhome and the year. I'm concerned about ours is at risk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billggski Posted August 29, 2018 Share Posted August 29, 2018 If you search for "ford transit break-in" you can see how easy it is with just a mole grip. And you can now buy electronic aids on Amazon to link to the ecu and start the engine. Deadlocks or other safety add ons may help, but visible security such as steering locks, wheel locks or locking the seats turned backwards will, hopefully, persuade them to move onto an easier target. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wasnt Me Posted August 29, 2018 Share Posted August 29, 2018 I have a pedal lock, a wheel clamp and a steering wheel lock. I was going to replace the lock, but haven't got round to it. Oh and it's on my drive under a CCTV camera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Posted August 29, 2018 Share Posted August 29, 2018 Spot on Billggski. A friendly commercial van driver has just talked me through how he could steal my Fiat van within a minute or two if he had access to the cab and the appropriate electronic devices/software which are freely and legally available. This included disabling my alarm and starting the engine. What makes the Transit attractive to thieves seems to be the ease in which the doors can be opened, the ease of getting the right software for a Ford, and the number of Ford Transits sold. He said many commercial Transits are fitted with heavy duty locks by the owners to deter thieves. Visible deterrents seem to be a must, not just for Transits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanf1 Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 The problem with external security measures, i.e. upgrading locks etc is that there are other easier ways to gain entry (plastic windows, hab door etc). The best security measures are visible, physical immobilisers such as steering locks and pedal locks. There are also dummy OBDII ports that you can link up to the original but will only provide power and not access to the onboard computer. Thieves are getting more sophisticated with the electronics and are able to by-pass security measures, but hard physical deterents will provide more of a challenge and take longer to by-pass which could mean they move on to an easier target. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will86 Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 In the past we simply removed part of the engine starting mechanism. There must surely be a removable modern part that could disable a vehicle ? A simple long length of High Tensile chain looped around everything with two or three different HT locks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 Will86 - 2018-08-30 10:43 AM In the past we simply removed part of the engine starting mechanism. There must surely be a removable modern part that could disable a vehicle ? A simple long length of High Tensile chain looped around everything with two or three different HT locks. On a old Viva had fitted a switch on low tension 'running' contact of coil (as opposed to the starting contact) this was great as the car would fire up then 'die', someone tried to nick it, they got into car ok but obviously couldn't start it, it appears they even tried bumping it across a sloping carpark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAJay Posted August 30, 2018 Author Share Posted August 30, 2018 Wasn't Me - 2018-08-29 7:26 PM Do you know the types of motorhome and the year. I'm concerned about ours is at risk. I don't know the years. We kept our van there for 12 years. Sold it , and removed it the monday before the breakin!! We fitted hoe locks th cab doors , only able to open from the inside with a key! The thieves had obviously known about the security cameras etc. The theft was at 1-1.30 am on sat/sunday PJay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will86 Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 When we were active camping with the French Rapido M/H I made up radio tracker labels with foreign call numbers and pasted them in obvious places. A very simple device can make a thief look else where. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 And another recent report of a stolen Transit MH... https://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/motorhomes/news/chausson-motorhome-filled-with-charity-stock-stolen-on-the-a38 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laimeduck Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 colin - 2018-08-30 11:13 AMWill86 - 2018-08-30 10:43 AMIn the past we simply removed part of the engine starting mechanism. There must surely be a removable modern part that could disable a vehicle ?A simple long length of High Tensile chain looped around everything with two or three different HT locks.On a old Viva had fitted a switch on low tension 'running' contact of coil (as opposed to the starting contact) this was great as the car would fire up then 'die', someone tried to nick it, they got into car ok but obviously couldn't start it, it appears they even tried bumping it across a sloping carpark. Did the same on my old A35. Wired a switch to the electric fuel pump feed wire. It would run for 30 secs then die. Switch was an old round house light switch screwed under the dash. Used to forget myself sometimes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will86 Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 Another trick when we parked in a strange place was to have a look for any suspicious vehicles or people nearby, then ask the wife to pose against our van for a picture, with the camera pointed at her but making sure any suspect onlookers were included and most important making sure they knew they were included. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Bulgaria Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 The old maxim applies "if the want it they will have it" all one can do is put sufficient obstacles in the way that the thieves pick on an easier one. I use a Disklok fitted on the steering wheel, even when in the gold standard CASAOA storage compound I use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wasnt Me Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 Keithl - 2018-08-30 12:28 PM And another recent report of a stolen Transit MH... https://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/motorhomes/news/chausson-motorhome-filled-with-charity-stock-stolen-on-the-a38 Same as ours :-| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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