Milan / Italy - Ducato Poor Door Locks / Be On Your Guard.....

[FordSport]

August 2017, ex g / f and I stopped off at a supermarket to grab a bottle to give to our local friends as a thank you for their hospitality. We had intended to be in and out, but decided to stock up, for the return journey to Blighty. On returning to the van on the left side ( a coach built 2002 Ducato ) I spotted the open glove box, then the unlocked passengers door and then the damage to the drivers door lock.
As we came out of the supermarket, we both noticed the Romanian registered older car and the elderly woman leaning up against the boot lid looking at us. She was the watch whilst the scum broke in. Cut a long story short, whoever got in , knew exactly how to open the Ducatos door ( screw driver into the plastic lock, bent it down and turn it and hey presto it's unlocked ) I was shocked at just how easy it is to break into one of these Ducatos. The 03 on Ducatos, have a larger stainless finished lock, so Fiat knew the original design was pants !!

 

[MikeD]

That's all the damage they did to a van parked next to us last year.

View media item 22801

 

[FordSport]

Hi Mike, hard to see the damage from the photo, but did they get the door open ?

 

[Riverbankannie]

The screwdriver up the lock pops the central locking.
Happened to us too in Spain. Even smaller ding to be seen that that above.
We now have these plates

 

[MikeD]

Hi Mike, hard to see the damage from the photo, but did they get the door open ?

The damage is just the small "vee" in the bottom of the plastic trim around the handle above the number 4 and directly below the key hole.

Yes, they got in, if I remember they had cash/credit cards stolen.

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[Pekepal]

The screwdriver up the lock pops the central locking.
Happened to us too in Spain. Even smaller ding to be seen that that above.
We now have these plates
View attachment 283994

Could you tell us how to get these plates fitted please?

 

[Pekepal]

The screwdriver up the lock pops the central locking.
Happened to us too in Spain. Even smaller ding to be seen that that above.
We now have these plates
View attachment 283994

Oops wrong quote above! Could you advise how we get plates fitted please?

 

[Stroppy Bird]

Oops wrong quote above! Could you advise how we get plates fitted please?

We’ve also got them and fitted them ourselves. They come with instructions but I also followed a video guide on YouTube



The proplates have changed slightly but the principals are the same.

 

[MikeD]

Beat me to it

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/heosafe-deadlocks-and-proplates.135670/

 

[Riverbankannie]

Could you tell us how to get these plates fitted please?

Here is a thread I posted when we fitted them

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/fitting-pro-plates-to-fiat-ducato-2015-model.174576/

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[FordSport]

Shocked that Fiat are Still making the Ducato So easy to get into!

Are the plates available for the early Ducato ?

 

[Riverbankannie]

Try here
http://www.garrisonlocks.co.uk/van-locks-and-security-products/pro-plates

 

[Driventemple]

Just about to fit ProPlates to my 2018 X290 and I discovered these were fitted. Has anyone else seen them? Are Fiats now strengthening the door locks, and do I need to fit the ProPlates? There is of course nothing on the outside to disuade an attempt to punch a hole beneath the door lock...
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[Riverbankannie]

If you’ve had the van from new, then it must be Fiat’s attempt at preventing access with a screwdriver.
However, if you have already bought the proplates, we think worth fitting them as deterrent.

 

[pappajohn]

Shocked that Fiat are Still making the Ducato So easy to get into!

Are the plates available for the early Ducato ?

Ford are still making the Transit and they are easier to steal l than a Mars bar from a corner shop.

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[busby]

Fit Heosafe on your cab doors internally and exit via habitation door.Fit external Heosafe on habitation door. Not foolproof but stops opportunists. BUSBY.

 

[CubbyIOM]

Any recommendations on garage security? Any experience of either additional exterior lock, such as the FIAMMA versions I've seen, or some sort of internal grill/shutter?

Heading to the continent in mid-april, MH has large rear garage and would like to add some sensible precautions.

Many thanks

 

[Happy1]

We always fit Fiamma safe door frame locks as they come with a matched key for three locks.

 

[Jake Royd]

Have fitted Garrison locks proplates to our Ducato.
Relatively easy to fit.
They supply a steel box with the proplate that goes onto the lower 2 fixings , I left this off initially cos I could not find a way of fitting it.

Anyway, the purpose of my post is to advise that if buying proplates you only need 1.
On the drivers side (UK)
I bought 2 and soon found out that on the door with no locking barrel (nearside in Uk) there are no 'guts' for the proplate to protect , so i wasted some money.

Of course if you have a PVC you need also to consider the rear doors which are just as easy to flip the door lock with a sharp blade inserted just below the door handle.

 

[skylinersi]

Have fitted Garrison locks proplates to our Ducato.
Relatively easy to fit.
They supply a steel box with the proplate that goes onto the lower 2 fixings , I left this off initially cos I could not find a way of fitting it.

Anyway, the purpose of my post is to advise that if buying proplates you only need 1.
On the drivers side (UK)
I bought 2 and soon found out that on the door with no locking barrel (nearside in Uk) there are no 'guts' for the proplate to protect , so i wasted some money.

Of course if you have a PVC you need also to consider the rear doors which are just as easy to flip the door lock with a sharp blade inserted just below the door handle.

apparently..............even on the handles with no lock, if they get under it there are cables they can get at to open, which is why i fitted a plate to each of our doors............

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[cumbriankeith]

Just about to fit ProPlates to my 2018 X290 and I discovered these were fitted. Has anyone else seen them? Are Fiats now strengthening the door locks, and do I need to fit the ProPlates? There is of course nothing on the outside to disuade an attempt to punch a hole beneath the door lock...
Broken Link Removed
Broken Link Removed

I realise that this is quite an old thread now, but did you figure out whether newer Ducatos are all fitted with these extra security plate features internally? I'm trying to determine whether our new van would be better secured by adding Proplates, especially if opening the driver's door lock also triggers the central locking, which in our van then unlocks the habitation door. This would make my fitting of internal Heo deadlocks to the cab doors futile, unless I fit additional security to the hab door as well.

 

[busby]

August 2017, ex g / f and I stopped off at a supermarket to grab a bottle to give to our local friends as a thank you for their hospitality. We had intended to be in and out, but decided to stock up, for the return journey to Blighty. On returning to the van on the left side ( a coach built 2002 Ducato ) I spotted the open glove box, then the unlocked passengers door and then the damage to the drivers door lock.
As we came out of the supermarket, we both noticed the Romanian registered older car and the elderly woman leaning up against the boot lid looking at us. She was the watch whilst the scum broke in. Cut a long story short, whoever got in , knew exactly how to open the Ducatos door ( screw driver into the plastic lock, bent it down and turn it and hey presto it's unlocked ) I was shocked at just how easy it is to break into one of these Ducatos. The 03 on Ducatos, have a larger stainless finished lock, so Fiat knew the original design was pants !!

Fitted Heosafe on mine,,one on each cab door internally and exterior one on side opening door.Also fitted clear security film on both cab door windows..Bit belt and braces but better safe than sorry. Also got beware of the dog signs on the van,,BUSBY.?

 

[Driventemple]

I realise that this is quite an old thread now, but did you figure out whether newer Ducatos are all fitted with these extra security plate features internally?

I don't know if this is a universal improvement to all Ducatos. I just decided to fit ProPlates (a) because I had already purchased them and, (b) persons wishing to break in might reason that it would be better to try another van! Sorry if that sounds a little selfish.

 

[Fontie]

You guys that are fitting the proPlates do you have an alarm fitted to your vans, meaning you fitted the ProPlates as a visual deterrent alongside the alarm. Or have you not got an alarm fitted. I'm interested as I have a Striker+Growler which I always set when I leave or sleep in my van. Just wondering if I should get a ProPlate I have never seen the need ?

 

[Coolcats]

I would suggest not just to rely on a door lock but make sure you have levels of security Vanbitz strikeback or Growler would be a good start. If two vans stood next together one with an alarm and one not which do you think the thieves would target!

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[Driventemple]

You guys that are fitting the proPlates do you have an alarm fitted to your vans, meaning you fitted the ProPlates as a visual deterrent alongside the alarm. Or have you not got an alarm fitted.

The 'van was supplied with a Thatchem 1 alarm with a pretty blue flashing led on the dash
I just fitted Proplates after delivery to dissuade some toe rag from thinking of breaking in.

 

[Ironside]

I have growler & strikeback but now I have also got proplates to fit as a visual but also because it’s too late once they have punctured the lock.

 

[Just smiffy]

You guys that are fitting the proPlates do you have an alarm fitted to your vans, meaning you fitted the ProPlates as a visual deterrent alongside the alarm. Or have you not got an alarm fitted. I'm interested as I have a Striker+Growler which I always set when I leave or sleep in my van. Just wondering if I should get a ProPlate I have never seen the need ?

Strikeback and growler doesn’t stop someone getting in the van, proplates do... but if some scrote really wants to get in they’ll just smash a window

 

[Lenny HB]

Heading to the continent in mid-april, MH has large rear garage and would like to add some sensible precautions.

IMO additional locks makes it look like you have something worth nicking in there.

 

[Coolcats]

I have growler & strikeback but now I have also got proplates to fit as a visual but also because it’s too late once they have punctured the lock.

It is an interesting one, I had a car with no external boot lock you could only get in by using a cable release from inside the car yet....a professional still opened the boot without using the cable pull from the inside. I guess if you have a Growler or Strikeback it would deter the further intrusion or at least who ever opened the door lingering inside the vehicle.

It would be interesting to hear Eddie's perspective

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