Screwdriver break-in on my Fiat Ducato Motorhome (1 Viewer)

[Wesi]

We’ve had extra cab locks installed by these guys

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[joemocks79]

Have to say id never stay on a motorway servvice area or aire
Notorous for trouble youre lucky you weren't gassed and your collection of Rolex watches stolen

The myth of 'gassing' is still going strong I see. An opportunistic thief with a screw driver is one thing. A talented amateur anesthesia expert with vast quantities of expensive specialist gas cruising around lay-bys for those very well off travelers with high value items but who don't want to pay to stay the night in a site seems a little far fetched.

 

[Northernraider]

The myth of 'gassing' is still going strong I see. An opportunistic thief with a screw driver is one thing. A talented amateur anesthesia expert with vast quantities of expensive specialist gas cruising around lay-bys for those very well off travelers with high value items but who don't want to pay to stay the night in a site seems a little far fetched.

I see sarcasm was lost on you

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[Roadrunner734]

Have to say id never stay on a motorway servvice area or aire
Notorous for trouble youre lucky you weren't gassed and your collection of Rolex watches stolen

This so called gassing business is a load of tosh! people assume that they have been so called gassed, the thing is they wake up after hearing something, and are all groggy, as you would be, they then assume that they have been GASSED!!! there is no way you can be gassed unconscious in a large area such as a motorhome, they would need a gas canister as big as your gas bottle, Just make sure you park in a safe place, and definitely NOT on a motorway services, I've been motorhoming for over 30 years and only had one break in, yes, on a motorway services.

 

[Northernraider]

This so called gassing business is a load of tosh! people assume that they have been so called gassed, the thing is they wake up after hearing something, and are all groggy, as you would be, they then assume that they have been GASSED!!! there is no way you can be gassed unconscious in a large area such as a motorhome, they would need a gas canister as big as your gas bottle, Just make sure you park in a safe place, and definitely NOT on a motorway services, I've been motorhoming for over 30 years and only had one break in, yes, on a motorway services.

You can always spot the noobies

 

[Monty don]

No cut out in the hartl door casing so don't think access for those dead locks

Thanks for the info tough

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[suavecarve]

You can always spot the noobies

noobies to here, noobie with experience by the looks of it

 

[Stewart J]

No cut out in the hartl door casing so don't think access for those dead locks

Thanks for the info tough

See my post no 48 if you have the clip in plastic covers as in my case I drilled the lock and tapped it 8m, sourced and fitted plated cap screws, I cut them to exact length and screwed them into the lock turnbuckle secured with a locknut and a dab of thread lock. I drilled plastic cover to suit, sourced and fitted chrome collars stuck them in place just to tidy it up. Would something like this not suit yours?

 

[Richard n Ann]

This so called gassing business is a load of tosh! people assume that they have been so called gassed, the thing is they wake up after hearing something, and are all groggy, as you would be, they then assume that they have been GASSED!!! there is no way you can be gassed unconscious in a large area such as a motorhome, they would need a gas canister as big as your gas bottle, Just make sure you park in a safe place, and definitely NOT on a motorway services, I've been motorhoming for over 30 years and only had one break in, yes, on a motorway services.

to the forum!

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[Two Owl Ones]

Had a break in the other night while sleeping in my MH. Burstner ixio A class

Screw driver in cab door lock 30 minutes after I went to bed

Growler Alarm eventually went off when door was opened enough but nicked my phone

Now have the lovely job of replacing lock and at the same time what can be done to increase the difficulty of this happening again

So some advice please of the following

How hard is it to fit the new lock taking into account I don't have van doors so more door internal stuff to strip down

Can you get the locks and the change the fins to code lock to current key

What would you add to make it better while on strip down

Do you know anyone who has and can do this work

Back to the two scrotes I did challenge them and they did come over and give me my phone back by leaving it on the pavement

Cheers
Graham

hi sorry to hear about your break in, for the habi door we have fitted a Milenco lock, here is the link
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=391291790629

Also for anyone with van doors, Ebay do a stainless steel armour door plate to prevent a screwdriver attack. hope this helps here is the link below
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=143285993976

 

[Robbie7q]

I have a Burstner Aviano 2008, no Cab doors only a hab door. When l bought this a few months ago l thought the door lock to be a bit flimsy and with a good pull from the outside would probably give way. Had a Thule lock fitted that can be locked from inside without keys and from outside with keys. Seem pretty good but as already mentioned probably wouldn’t take too much to prise off with a small crowbar.

 

[Ingwe]

You would hear them trying though if you were in bed.In my small van I don't have that worry,,they would have to get in bed with me to gain access,,BUSBY.

The sound you're hearing is probably that of the person in bed with you trying to get out!

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[Colinyellowspanner]

There are two issues with A class (cab) doors. The plastic outside handles housing the lock barrel are poor, mine utilises the standard Ducato (crap) handle mounted into the aluminium. The other is the actual mechanism which physically holds the door shut. In my case, not too bad. A spring loaded hooked tongue swings out from the door edge to engage with a plastic coated u bolt, bolted to a plate screwed into the back of the metal frame, fairly standard. One top, one bottom.
Look closely at the moving tongue, extend it fully with the door open. If it’s like mine, there’s a hole through it. I made a rod to go through it.(Mine’s stainless but wire coat hanger’ll do). With the door shut, insert the rods, simples! It prevents the hooked metal tongues from disengaging from the u bolt,no matter what you do to outside or inside handles. All the loading is born by the metalwork, not the plastic moulding. The door stays tight in its frame, top and bottom. This would also work if some little darling has trashed the outside handle.(perish the thought), as temporary security. Obviously, this is no visual deterrent, but cost effective, absolutely!

 

[busby]

The sound you're hearing is probably that of the person in bed with you trying to get out!

2 singles I am afraid,,BUSBY

 

[Fulham Dave]

There are two issues with A class (cab) doors. The plastic outside handles housing the lock barrel are poor, mine utilises the standard Ducato (crap) handle mounted into the aluminium. The other is the actual mechanism which physically holds the door shut. In my case, not too bad. A spring loaded hooked tongue swings out from the door edge to engage with a plastic coated u bolt, bolted to a plate screwed into the back of the metal frame, fairly standard. One top, one bottom.
Look closely at the moving tongue, extend it fully with the door open. If it’s like mine, there’s a hole through it. I made a rod to go through it.(Mine’s stainless but wire coat hanger’ll do). With the door shut, insert the rods, simples! It prevents the hooked metal tongues from disengaging from the u bolt,no matter what you do to outside or inside handles. All the loading is born by the metalwork, not the plastic moulding. The door stays tight in its frame, top and bottom. This would also work if some little darling has trashed the outside handle.(perish the thought), as temporary security. Obviously, this is no visual deterrent, but cost effective, absolutely!

Same as us in our Globetrotter. We use a small combination padlock so it cannot be removed easily

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[Newfie]

Just checked my IXEO doors as you say there is no cutouts for additional locks.
The pro plate option would need to be modified as the door is straight on an A class, it also looks like the whole door or frame would need to be removed to get to the inside lock.
Not happy with the Milenco option as you wouldn’t be able to get out in a hurry.
I know they do a 2 way option but again no way to fit it here.

 

[busby]

Just checked my IXEO doors as you say there is no cutouts for additional locks.
The pro plate option would need to be modified as the door is straight on an A class, it also looks like the whole door or frame would need to be removed to get to the inside lock.
Not happy with the Milenco option as you wouldn’t be able to get out in a hurry.
I know they do a 2 way option but again no way to fit it here.

Look at Heosafe for can doors.BUSBY.

 

[TheBig1]

there is another way to mechanically secure cab doors, sliding door or rear doors from inside. Fit a chain bolted to the bodywork, maybe the seatbelt mounting point and clip to an eye on the door. Like these

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[sylvester1954]

Service area on French motorway toll road lit like day light 5 other vans with me

I did tie the door with a belt so the door will only open a bit so the alarm goes off. Van bitz growler

I have window alarms to

What else can you do with the ham door and passing door

This is an a class you cant tie doors together you only have one door

Only left shitty Ducato van lock. I guess the locks are set in plastic sleeve. Total crap

Surprised that you parked up on a Motorway service stop in France when most people on here and in guides strongly recommend that you shouldnt overnight in said locations?

 

[Monty don]

Several vans there and it looked fine
Used them many times before only on the toll routes
I guess sometimes shit happens

 

[joemocks79]

I see sarcasm was lost on you

You're right the typical sarcasm emoji was missed off so I took it as just another paranoid internet forum conspiracy theorist as that's the most likely encounter these days.

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[gwyntaxi]

Service area on French motorway toll road lit like day light 5 other vans with me

I did tie the door with a belt so the door will only open a bit so the alarm goes off. Van bitz growler

I have window alarms to

What else can you do with the ham door and passing door

This is an a class you cant tie doors together you only have one door

Only left shitty Ducato van lock. I guess the locks are set in plastic sleeve. Total crap

It might help if you remember the golden rule when parking up off-grid, NEVER ever park on a motorway “aire”, this has been advised on this forum countless times, a lot that have stayed on them have had a bad experience, myself included, first and only time, never again,just saying.

 

[gwyntaxi]

Ok same year as ours, maybe I need to look into some form of internal door lock.

Personally I don’t feel that internal door locks are that much more of a deterrent, I mean the would-be thief don’t know it’s fitted so will try his luck find a little resistance and end up doing more damage trying to get past what appears to be the normal flimsy lock, visual deterrents are far more off-putting to the casual thief even if they don’t enhance appearance, the object is to keep em out in the first place, fiamma style hab door locks are quite effective and can be fitted to almost any door and don’t cost a fortune.

 

[gwyntaxi]

Several vans there and it looked fine
Used them many times before only on the toll routes
I guess sometimes shit happens

The one and only time I overnighted on a motorway aire, was on the A9at Montpelier woke up in the morning to find we had been burgled, and we never heard a thing, and no we weren’t gassed and we were surrounded by about 20 other caravans, Motorhomes, even tent campers on the grass, first and last on a motorway aire.

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[Hettie's Crew]

I don't like drilling holes every where but the milenco external arm lock I guess will stop them

They do look crap though

Just spent a grand on the growler but I guess it did stop them or was it my £5 leather belt across the door that did the trick

I think the Milenco ones are just like an advert saying “Look we’re not in”

 

[meanduandadog]

I find the doggy discourages this sort of thing, he senses anyone within 15 feet of the van after bedtime

 

[Abacist]

We tie the doors together with a pair of luggage straps through the door pulls. Allows the alarm to go off but stops the door opening fully.

He said it’s an A class!

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[gpat]

Sites arent theif proof in fact they are like supermarkets...ive seen countless reports of scooters , bikes and other items nicked on sites

Its possible to get broken into on sites of course. I would say it is much less probable though. Especially when many sites have CCTV now

 

[gpat]

NEW Fiat Ducato Deadlocks | Vanlocker | Van Lock Experts | UK - Vanlocker Ltd

VANLOK® Professional Grade deadocks offer superior protection for your van doors compared to standard locking systems. Available for DIY or fitted by us in the Greater London area

www.vanlocker.co.uk

I like the look of these

 

[ivorantony]

I fitted these to my A class and as a visual deterrent to any passing thief I think they work well,
Can be operated from inside and out with two additional ones for the Garage doors,

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