Fiat Ducato and pro plate

[Laughing Gravy]

Hello all

Wondered if anyone can tell me whether Fiat has eliminated the security risk of being able to open the central locking via the driver door/lock with a screwdriver, by inserting a plate as part of the standard offering ?

Considering installing the pro plate item but someone said they thought this wasn’t needed on Fiat newer models

 

[MichaelT]

Thought that was on Ford Transit as lots of those have been stolen not heard of any issues with Fiat's?

 

[Ernesto]

Not that I’m aware - certainly not on my 2019 Ducato. If they made it harder to get in, I suspect thieves would simply do more damage and get in anyway.
I reckon I could get in a window easily enough with a screwdriver if I had to - wouldbt be pretty or sophisticated but I’d get in

 

[MichaelT]

Not that I’m aware - certainly not on my 2019 Ducato. If they made it harder to get in, I suspect thieves would simply do more damage and get in anyway.
I reckon I could get in a window easily enough with a screwdriver if I had to - wouldbt be pretty or sophisticated but I’d get in

 

[Two on Tour]

Looks like the answer is no as they are available for new vehicles.

https://www.protectavan.co.uk/vehic...006-present/ducato-sept-2006-present-proplate

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[Laughing Gravy]

Thought that was on Ford Transit as lots of those have been stolen not heard of any issues with Fiat's?

Might be the Tranny too. Defo the Ducato though

 

[Vanderek]

Have a 2019 Ducato and fitted proplates a couple of months ago...

 

[Laughing Gravy]

Have a 2019 Ducato and fitted proplates a couple of months ago...

Did you do it yourself ? Just had a look at a YouTube vid and it looks like a couple of hours at least for each door

 

[Two on Tour]

Did you do it yourself ? Just had a look at a YouTube vid and it looks like a couple of hours at least for each door

They are pretty easy to fit yourself. Get yourself a decent door card removal tool to pop the clips as they can be easily broken if your cak hander with them and warm the mastic holding the polyethene sheeting behind the door card with a hair dryer or it tends to tear otherwise.

 

[rosalan]

It disturbs me to write this but a couple of years ago I locked all my keys inside the van. I was parked on a busy roadside in Spain. Standing on my bike to reach and with a bit of wire I picked up in the gutter, it took me perhaps two minutes to unlock a large window and climb in. Passers by saw me, ignored me but sadly on that occasion I had locked all the keys in my garage. It took a locksmith 2 hours to eventually break both locks to get my keys back. Morals aplenty but garage is much safer than the living area for valuables. As for doors........

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[westhamman]

When my van got broken into recently the thief attempted to breakin via the drivers door, only broke the lock didn't gain entry, so tried the window didn't get in but caused damage, fortunately not bad, then finally got in via habitation door, broke the barrel and forced the door open, all for the front seat covers. The locksmith mentioned installing a pro plate, in the hope they leave door lock alone.

 

[Ernesto]

When my van got broken into recently the thief attempted to breakin via the drivers door, only broke the lock didn't gain entry, so tried the window didn't get in but caused damage, fortunately not bad, then finally got in via habitation door, broke the barrel and forced the door open, all for the front seat covers. The locksmith mentioned installing a pro plate, in the hope they leave door lock alone.

Sorry to hear you were targeted like that ... but it does go to show - fitting ever increasing amounts of ironmongery and hardware to try and stop thieves getting in, is not ideal. There are too many ways in and so much damage they can do.
Was the van alarmed? Did they try all three methods, and then burgle the van, with multiples sirens blaring and lights flashing ...?

 

[Laughing Gravy]

I do want to travel off the grid and far flung places. Mine is a new PVC and I am coming to the conclusion in addition to the fitted Thatcham that I will need

Yiiwee or Milenco trembler alarms for the window
Steering wheel lock
Driver seat lock
Pro-plates
Womo chains for the 2 cab, sliding door and barn doors
Tracker

in the hope they will be deterred

 

[Laughing Gravy]

Oh ! and sliding door padlock from the outside on the rail

 

[pjay]

Do you have to fit these plates to all door handles or just the ones with locks on?

Pete

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[Nasher]

As I've posted before, I can't find any statistics for the amount of thefts of or from motorhomes

Insurance is relatively cheap - from which I assume the risks are relatively small

I wonder if many of these security options do more for the peace of mind of the owners than to stop a determined thief?

 

[Laughing Gravy]

Very good point.

I may be wrong here but my understanding is that only the doors with a lock needs to be protected as the screwdriver method is aimed at opening the central locking. However a thick thief may not know that and try a non locked door

 

[Richard n Ann]

I put Thatcham dead locks on our front doors, I wanted something visible.

 

[Two on Tour]

I thought abought fitting the Tiiwee alarms until I saw this.

 

[Two on Tour]

Very good point.

I may be wrong here but my understanding is that only the doors with a lock needs to be protected as the screwdriver method is aimed at opening the central locking. However a thick thief may not know that and try a non locked door

I fitted ProPlates to both doors to stop cretins trying the screwdriver method on the passenger door and for the aesthetics.

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[Ernesto]

I do want to travel off the grid and far flung places. Mine is a new PVC and I am coming to the conclusion in addition to the fitted Thatcham that I will need

Yiiwee or Milenco trembler alarms for the window
Steering wheel lock
Driver seat lock
Pro-plates
Womo chains for the 2 cab, sliding door and barn doors
Tracker

in the hope they will be deterred

Alternatively, why not just fit a high quality, fully featured alarm that covers the whole van, that has a very visible deterrent and encourage the thief to pass on by or target something less visible?

 

[Jake Royd]

I thought abought fitting the Tiiwee alarms until I saw this.

I understand this but I would hope that most low level scrotes are not going to have even a simple jammer. they will just go and rob a MH that does not have Tiiwee and Proplates etc.

These devices do not prevent crime, they displace it , away from your vehicle.

For professionals there is no completely effective defence.

I have Proplates,a Elefant door lock blocker, a Disklock and Tiiwee.

Thinking about the portlock that a recent thread was promoting.

 

[Diabalo]

Do you have to fit these plates to all door handles or just the ones with locks on?

Pete

Just the drivers side is needed but I put them on both. I bought mine of fleabay HERE £42 for 2 including the extra internal guard box that goes inside. I see they charge for P&P now.

 

[footscray188c]

Got mine from eBay with the internal box protection. Easy to fit make sure you have a 1/4 socket extension for the 10mm nuts . You can upgrade your speakers at the same time.