Bit of good advice from the local 'plods'. (1 Viewer)

Trikeman

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Aug 22, 2012
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The theft of MoHo's seems to be getting more popular. The local bobbies have told us a few bits of advice that could reduce the chances of theft by the 'new' fast and effective method of MoHo thefts.

Contrary to beliefs several recent MoHo thieves caught have been 'non-entry' thefts. Basically a beavertail reverses up to the MoHo, driver dives underneath and cuts the handbrake cable, on with the winch cable to the front, onto the beavertail, chocks in and away to go.

Two recent finds showed that the MoHo's hadn't even been entered.

The bit of advice given to reduce the chances of this simple and fast method of theft is to park the MoHo, on full lock (towards a wall if poss) and park in 1st gear (difficult to drag with the smaller winch). OK they could break in and break the steering lock, but no need when parked wheels straight ahead.

The bobbies also said that on one occasion the neighbours of the stolen MoHo was told by the guy with the beavertail (and the bright green jacket) that he was taking it in for service........:Angry: he even had the yellow flashing lights going.

Food for thought.

Trikeman. :winky:
 
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Trikeman

Trikeman

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If they can get in my storage site they can have it :ROFLMAO:

Don't say that Andy - my Wife saw the photo of your MoHo today and said she 'liked the look of that one',,,,,,,,, Sacre Blurr, I've only just got the one we have the way we want it with every conceivable extra her little heart desires,,,,,, Then, Oooo that looks a nice one.
:Doh:

Trikeman. :winky:

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Nov 30, 2009
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We dropped ours off at storage this afternoon after a lovely weekend away. Parking up in our spot , we noticed we had a new next door neighbour .

The owners had removed the steering wheel ?
 

geo glasgow

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i thought that was standard

We dropped ours off at storage this afternoon after a lovely weekend away. Parking up in our spot , we noticed we had a new next door neighbour .

The owners had removed the steering wheel ?



i turn mine hard right then my steering wheel thats married to my steering stem can be removed by pulling two pull out buttons,?
is mine special? do other motorhomes have this...it means they cant break the steering lock,, i have a wheel clamp that has an internal padlock that you cant get into to snap or cut off,,,

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TheBig1

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many many years! since I was a kid
removable steering wheels where a popular add on accessory a few years back before air bags in the steering wheel became pretty much standard fit on all new vans
 

jhorsf

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The local police are really helpful they told a neighbour who had his works van broken into more than once and tools stolen, as he now left no tools in it overnight to leave it unlocked so they would not smash the locks or windows anymore:Doh:
The insurance company would just love that on the theft claim form
 

ourcampersbeentrashed

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so the moral of this tale is


if you see a motorhome being towed - phone it into police

it may be legitimate but then again it may be not xxxxx

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Sep 25, 2009
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:thumb:I have always parked mine as close to wall as possible then put on full lock ,I have a disc lock steering wheel lock and I leave it in reverse.I also have alarm & imobiliser.Theres no a lot more you can do if some scrote realy wants to take it they will:thumb:
 
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It's a similar story with the Land a Rover 90 / 110 / Defender. They're about the most wanted vehicle on the TWOC'ers list and have been for some time.

I take my own precautions with my 110 but it's always a daily worry.

Having Udo on an army barracks, locked up inside is a weight off my mind as regards theft. But when out and about, you can't take chances. I've heard of caravans disappearing from motorway service stations even with wheel clamps seemingly ineffective in stopping a determined thief.

The sad truth of the matter is twofold:

1. Take a number of preventative security steps to make any potential thief's attempt as difficult as possible.

2. If someone wants your 'van badly enough, they'll find away to have it.
 

Jaws

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Techno

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Mine is just parked in first gear without handbrake. It is behind a steel fence that has two sets of gates to pass through, you are held between the gates while the outer one closes and you are filmed. The whole site is peppered with CCTV. Access through the gate is by your mobile phone that the system recognises. My pitch is 9 metres long for £400 per year. I can view my van by IP camera anytime.
All the tuggers have hitchlocks etc despite not being able to get a van out illegally :roflmto:
My signature picture was taken under the central camera that I can direct from my phone and screen capture
 
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WynandJean

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Don't say that Andy - my Wife saw the photo of your MoHo today and said she 'liked the look of that one',,,,,,,,, Sacre Blurr, I've only just got the one we have the way we want it with every conceivable extra her little heart desires,,,,,, Then, Oooo that looks a nice one.
:Doh:

Trikeman. :winky:

Well, Techno, if it does go missing you'll know where to look first!::bigsmile:

Wyn
 

magicsurfbus

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I put a cable padlock through the steering wheel then wrap it through the door handle to lock the wheel and the driver's door together. However, the full lock idea is a smart one and I'll do that in future. I leave the handbrake off in storage to avoid long-term strain on the cable. Our old VW once snapped its handbrake cable in a steep car park - fortunately I was in it at the time, but it's always made me a bit wary with over-using handbrakes. They come in handy for traffic queues in the Alps.

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Pat and Trish

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The local police are really helpful they told a neighbour who had his works van broken into more than once and tools stolen, as he now left no tools in it overnight to leave it unlocked so they would not smash the locks or windows anymore:Doh:
The insurance company would just love that on the theft claim form

Had a problem with locking an Astra years ago so left it unlocked at train station while at work, eventually a toe rag put a lump of concrete through the window to gain access costing me more in damage than value of what he stole, why didn't he just open the door. :Doh:
Of course with me being a CID officer my uniform colleagues never ever mentioned it again :Blush:
 

wasp

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I leave mine on me drive wi keys in an engine runnin, it`s costin me a f****n fortune in diesel:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:

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Nov 25, 2013
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If you store it at home invest in a "rising post" in front of the vehicle or hardened steel cables through the front wheels as used by VOSA to immobilise HGV s when impounded.
 

johnp10

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Regarding leaving the wheels on full lock:
I was lead to believe this is bad for the ball joints.

so / not so?
 

TheBig1

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Regarding leaving the wheels on full lock:
I was lead to believe this is bad for the ball joints.

so / not so?
thats what i was told many years ago, also bad for the seals and gaiters on the power steering rack

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cmcardle75

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I put a cable padlock through the steering wheel then wrap it through the door handle to lock the wheel and the driver's door together. However, the full lock idea is a smart one and I'll do that in future. I leave the handbrake off in storage to avoid long-term strain on the cable. Our old VW once snapped its handbrake cable in a steep car park - fortunately I was in it at the time, but it's always made me a bit wary with over-using handbrakes. They come in handy for traffic queues in the Alps.

Indeed. I never leave the handbrake on for more than a week and would never rely on it alone in any vehicle if not sat behind the wheel. In storage, I chock wheels and leave it in Park (1st if I had a manual). "Handbrake off" is on the checklist.
 

Wyaye wires

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If the thieving eastwards can get past my Rottweiler of a neighbour they are welcome to it. :ROFLMAO::RollEyes::ROFLMAO:
 

DBK

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Regarding leaving the wheels on full lock:
I was lead to believe this is bad for the ball joints.

so / not so?

Could well be true, perhaps half lock would sufficient to discourage someone trying to winch the MH onto a flatbed?

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Bluemerle

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I have always left all my vehicles in gear when parked, maybe because "in the good old days" so many had knackered brakes.::bigsmile:
 
Dec 6, 2011
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most trackers have a "geofence" if it is moved more than a very short distance without the ignition on it alarms into the monitoring station.

simples!:thumb:
 

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