How Did They Break In? (1 Viewer)

Espana Peter

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Jul 21, 2013
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Hello,

I have a Mclouis on a Fiat Ducato about 5 years old and parked up overnight in a large Spanish Service Station a few nights ago and got "broken into". I locked the cab doors and the light confirming came on, yet in the morning, the light was still lit and the passenger door still locked but the drivers door was UNLOCKED and the obvious entry point. No marks on the door at all and no Fiat alarm went off. Now the insurers are trying not to pay up for the losses as there was no physical sign of a break in. Any ideas how the thieves did it?
 

Flamenca

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Hello,

I have a Mclouis on a Fiat Ducato about 5 years old and parked up overnight in a large Spanish Service Station a few nights ago and got "broken into". I locked the cab doors and the light confirming came on, yet in the morning, the light was still lit and the passenger door still locked but the drivers door was UNLOCKED and the obvious entry point. No marks on the door at all and no Fiat alarm went off. Now the insurers are trying not to pay up for the losses as there was no physical sign of a break in. Any ideas how the thieves did it?
I have no idea how they got into yours but I had a very similar situation with my van a number of years ago in Spain. The Guardia report also stated that there were no visible signs of break-in so the insurers refused to pay for items taken assuming that the vehicle was not locked. It was fun getting back into the UK without a passport and not bothering to obtain an 'emergency' passport from the embassy in Madrid.

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CWH

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What a horrid thing to happen, made worse by being unfairly accused of somehow being "to blame" for somebody breaking in to your van!
nothing stolen
I got the impression stuff was stolen?
the insurers are trying not to pay up for the losses
Hope it hasn't made life too difficult @Espana Peter , and that you get a good result.
 

CWH

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sorry if the links to much I'm not good at this
:D no you're not are you!!! :D but we all have to learn sometime (I couldn't post links a year ago either) ;)
Very interesting information though, what an absolute disgrace that these things are on the open market. How can motorists possibly protect themselves?
 

Fatwheels

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I had extra deadlocks fitted to my van and will be having them fitted to my MH when it's delivered these are the the ones doing it police we arnt even interested .these are the people who did it

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Last edited:
Jan 3, 2008
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What a horrid thing to happen, made worse by being unfairly accused of somehow being "to blame" for somebody breaking in to your van!

I got the impression stuff was stolen?

Hope it hasn't made life too difficult @Espana Peter , and that you get a good result.

Yes, it was a horrid thing to happen. BUT. No accusation of blame intended whatsoever . The report makes no mention of anything stolen so perhaps you assume there was because the insurance company and thieves were mentioned, just as as you incorrectly assume I was making an allegation. I replied to what the post said, not what it didn't.

For your information, if I don't close my front passenger door fully and activate the locking mechanism with the electronic key the light on the dash indicates the doors are locked with the flashing light and there is the sound of the doors locking, the rear hab door locks though the motorhome front door is not locked and our alarm is not activated.

I simply offer this as a possible explanation, nothing more, no accusations, no assumptions.
 
Jul 5, 2013
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The OP actually said
"Now the insurers are trying not to pay up for the losses as there was no physical sign of a break in."
That suggests to me there were things stolen, as that can be the only "losses" if there was no physical damage.

I agree with you about the door maybe left open or ajar.

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Feb 27, 2011
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Deadlocks are what I recommend to prevent this. I really hope you can fight your insurance company successfully.

This is the ones I used. But you may need the newer model ones.

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Jan 3, 2008
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The OP actually said
"Now the insurers are trying not to pay up for the losses as there was no physical sign of a break in."
That suggests to me there were things stolen, as that can be the only "losses" if there was no physical damage.

I agree with you about the door maybe left open or ajar.

Yes quit so. I realise now I have re read the post that as you say something obviously taken. Thank you
 

chrisboyo

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If we are parking somewhere I feel is a bit dodgy, I put a quick release strap across the door handles

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Jul 5, 2013
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If we are parking somewhere I feel is a bit dodgy, I put a quick release strap across the door handles
We tend to have a simpler system. Just drive off and find somewhere we are comfortable with. :D

We certainly would not stop on motorway Aires, as they have a reputation for problems.
 

teensvan99

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We use a 6mm wire strop with 2 swaged loops that runs from the steering wheel round the nearside door hand pull on and under the 3 peddles up and around the offside door handle pull and padlocks together over the steering wheel horn push. If the doors are forced open more than a couple of inches the horn sounds. This does work as we have found out. This cost £5 to make up at a boat chandlers a few years ago. Simple.

steve & ann. --------- teensvan

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Espana Peter

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Thank you for all of the input, yes items were stolen, all they, he or it could grab in a matter of minutes from the table & seats, including some clothing which the police found scattered between 5 & 20kms down the A7. I was just mad at not knowing HOW they got in so consensus seems to be a car pick locksmiths tool which one would think were not available for the general public, or the drivers door was left ajar? If the lock pick was used, wouldn't it have opened both cab doors or does only the key with a chip do that? If I had left the drivers door ajar, they would still need a key of some sort, unless I had left it completely open? ALL of my keys were in my trainer shorts so I had to hire a car and make 1100 kms round trip home to get my spare set. I like teensvan99 idea a lot :)
 
Aug 18, 2014
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We use a 6mm wire strop with 2 swaged loops that runs from the steering wheel round the nearside door hand pull on and under the 3 peddles up and around the offside door handle pull and padlocks together over the steering wheel horn push. If the doors are forced open more than a couple of inches the horn sounds. This does work as we have found out. This cost £5 to make up at a boat chandlers a few years ago. Simple.

steve & ann. --------- teensvan

I wire an alarm direct to all door switches . It has to be set off to get out or in. cannot be turned off from outside vehicle.
 
Aug 18, 2014
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We use a 6mm wire strop with 2 swaged loops that runs from the steering wheel round the nearside door hand pull on and under the 3 peddles up and around the offside door handle pull and padlocks together over the steering wheel horn push. If the doors are forced open more than a couple of inches the horn sounds. This does work as we have found out. This cost £5 to make up at a boat chandlers a few years ago. Simple.

steve & ann. --------- teensvan
This has just given me another idea ;) I have recently changed both front seats & they recline/tilt forward. I noticed that when I tilt the drivers one it rests on the steering wheel, which isn't a problem until you lean on the seat back. ..............which then sets off the horn:LOL:. A nice little wire or strop through both doors & over seat should do it (y)

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CWH

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If the lock pick was used, wouldn't it have opened both cab doors or does only the key with a chip do that?
My second "manual" key only opens the drivers door.
 
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Mel

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Are you sure they did not get in via a window.
In April a man was locked out of his Mercedes/Rapido in Spain.
I got into his van in under two mins no damage via a window.
I will not post how.
But look at all the windows and look if there are any marks on the motorhome next to the window.

Mel
 

old-mo

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One of these fixed to each door/ handle and the other end fixed to the body...

Once a door is opened the alarm goes off.. (Enough noise to wake the dead and frighten off any intruder) 140 decibals which is ear shattering..

To stop just replace the pin which would have been pulled out..

The lanyard may need extending with a piece of string/twine...

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Feb 27, 2011
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Not sleeping on motorway service areas is what I recommend to prevent this.

It's well documented they are not safe places to stay....even for few
hours.
I used to stop on them all the time while whizzing up and down france.
 

old-mo

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One in many thousands...... like every thing you only get to hear about the one vehicle that was broken into...

Take reasonable precautions, and stopping over night is as safe as wild camping and staying on official Aires.. (y)

.

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Jan 22, 2013
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I have a A class and decided that the security for the hab doors was sadly lacking, so fitted a pair of these that it obvious they are deadlocked from the outside as you are approaching the vehicle,



I know the windows are also a weak point but with reed switches and internal sensors it should trigger the alarm to wake you,
But I live in hope that a scumbag approaching my MH will see the locks and go looking elsewhere for his drug money,
I also have a complete set of keys locked in the safe with the safe key hidden in the MH,
Unfortunately no vehicle is safe from a breaking but you can make it more difficult so they don't assume that MH are easy pickings!
 

Wildman

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I never fail to be amazed at a thread like this where someone tell the world how its done and where to get the bits needed. A thieves university without doubt.

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Fatwheels

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Sorry if in trying to let people no what they may be up against that people feel I'm letting the less honest people no how to do it but if we don't no the techniques people r using to rip us off how r we meant to protect ourselfs
 

pappajohn

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I have a A class and decided that the security for the hab doors was sadly lacking, so fitted a pair of these that it obvious they are deadlocked from the outside as you are approaching the vehicle,
But how do you lock them FROM THE INSIDE ???

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