Swift Select Spirit 122 Fiat Ducato Stolen recovered

[SexyThexy]

Hi everyone, sorry for this being my first post, I read everything posted but never seem to have anything to add!
I have a Swift 122 on the Fiat Ducato base van, I bought it just a couple of months ago after saving up for years, sadly on Wednesday night it was stolen from outside my house! gutted doesn't even come near!

Fortunately I had a tracker fitted by Lockdown so we were able to locate the van 12 miles away early Thursday morning, unfortunately the dash and most of the front of the van has been wrecked, presumably as they tried, in vain, to find the tracker.

So the money i had invested in the Lockdown tracker was money well spent Carl Meyer was fantastic liaised with the police and provided reassurance / help throughout. They wouldn't have been able to drive it away if i hadn't forgot to set the Lockdown alarm, lesson learnt the hard way!

I am insured but i was surprised to find my insurer who "Specialises" in camper vans / motorhomes wants me to find a repairer to fettle the van, i need somewhere in the Buckinghamshire / Oxfordshire area who can:-

1. Repair the wiring which has been damaged,
2. Reinstate the dash
3. Check the proper functioning of all the campervan kit
4. Replace the ignition barrel / lock as well as the steering lock
5. Repair / repaint the drivers door where they gained entry

The van is currently with the police for "Forensics" which can take a week apparently, but on top of the stress of the theft / recovery I am now loosing sleep over finding the right place to get my pride and joy back on the road, has anyone got any recommendations?

Also the toe rags who stole it seem to have retained the ignition barrel, is it possible to reverse engineer a key from the barrel? Should i be insisting the the insurance replace all the locks with new to prevent easy entry in future?

Thank you all in advance!

 

[intokenny]

So pleased you will get it returned. Cannot help with repair work, but i wish you luck, i'm sure someone will be along soon. Would the police have recommendations?

 

[bobnick]

Bastard scum. Been robbed a couple of times so know how you must be feeling.
Cannot help re repairer as i live up North but good luck getting it sorted.

 

[TheBig1]

that's going to cost you at insurance renewal

oh and yes, you can read off the key code from the barrel

 

[Swifter]

So sorry buddy . What a nightmare . I will try and see what I can find online to help you .

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[Viennese]

I would recommend my van man who is extremely talented and can most likely do all you need doing. Centraleisure. )near Banbury/Brackley). I have been going to him for repairs/habitation checks for 4 years now and have been very pleased with the results.

 

[martin2603]

Try Elite Motorhomes. Probably be able to point in the right direction.

 

[mitzimad]

if its locks and wiring any garage electricians/auto should be able to do the repairs

 

[Deneb]

Also the toe rags who stole it seem to have retained the ignition barrel, is it possible to reverse engineer a key from the barrel? Should i be insisting the the insurance replace all the locks with new to prevent easy entry in future?

I suspect the thieves have simply discarded the ignition barrel after removing it to allow them to start the van. It suggests that they got inside and started it without a key, just using an electronic device to bypass the immobiliser. You would be in no different position if you changed all the locks.

 

[Viennese]

Try Elite Motorhomes. Probably be able to point in the right direction.

That's who told me about Shaun at Centraleisure - he worked there before he set up on his own. Elite seem to be very booked up, so I was glad to find him, and he really pulled out all the stops for me.

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[chrisgreen]

As you didn't set the alarm don't be surprised if your insurance refuses to payout.

 

[Minxy]

As you didn't set the alarm don't be surprised if your insurance refuses to payout.

It depends if the alarm was a requirement by the insurer, having a tracker may mean it wasn't ... I hope not!

 

[irnbru]

Glad you got it back, and as you say a lesson learned. No point in having an alarm system not to use it.

 

[HugoBNB]

Very sad to read your news. I hope you get sorted very quickly. We are North East so too far away to reccomend anyone. I am sure, as you have already seen above, that learned folk will put up some suggestions.
Keep strong.

 

[ambulancekidd]

Glad you've got the van back. I'd bat the repairs back into your insurers court, it is their problem.

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[Roclaire]

Hi Ihave dealt with insurance cmpy for years ,it is up to the insurance cmpy to send to one of their approved repaires .
It's not up to you .and if ignition and wiring have been damaged ,I can tell you now they will write van off.
They should arrange to be taken to main dealer of main base vehicle .
They will take photo,s and send to in house engineers ,as soon as you get into wiring loom ect ,its an instant total loss.
You may have spoken to someone who isn't really clued up at insurance .
Is it your broker who told you to find repairers or your broker.
If it's your broker ask them to give you details of your actual insurer, and speak directly to them,when police have finnished insurance should arrange collection and delivery to their approved repaires .

 

[Roclaire]

Hi forgot to ask ,what is year of motorhome .

 

[SexyThexy]

Hi, thanks we got it back after 8 weeks of being fettled, of course with bloody covid we havent managed to get out in it much, hoping for better luck this year, thanks for the info, but i hope i will never need it again!

 

[Figaro]

Hi, thanks we got it back after 8 weeks of being fettled, of course with bloody covid we havent managed to get out in it much, hoping for better luck this year, thanks for the info, but i hope i will never need it again!

Glad to hear you got it sorted to your satisfaction.
If you had a good repair done do you want to share with us where it was done ?
And review of service from insurer ? Good or bad
All useful info for funsters
Let`s all hope we can get back to touring soon

 

[Gaza1515]

Hi everyone, sorry for this being my first post, I read everything posted but never seem to have anything to add!
I have a Swift 122 on the Fiat Ducato base van, I bought it just a couple of months ago after saving up for years, sadly on Wednesday night it was stolen from outside my house! gutted doesn't even come near!

Fortunately I had a tracker fitted by Lockdown so we were able to locate the van 12 miles away early Thursday morning, unfortunately the dash and most of the front of the van has been wrecked, presumably as they tried, in vain, to find the tracker.

So the money i had invested in the Lockdown tracker was money well spent Carl Meyer was fantastic liaised with the police and provided reassurance / help throughout. They wouldn't have been able to drive it away if i hadn't forgot to set the Lockdown alarm, lesson learnt the hard way!

I am insured but i was surprised to find my insurer who "Specialises" in camper vans / motorhomes wants me to find a repairer to fettle the van, i need somewhere in the Buckinghamshire / Oxfordshire area who can:-

1. Repair the wiring which has been damaged,
2. Reinstate the dash
3. Check the proper functioning of all the campervan kit
4. Replace the ignition barrel / lock as well as the steering lock
5. Repair / repaint the drivers door where they gained entry

The van is currently with the police for "Forensics" which can take a week apparently, but on top of the stress of the theft / recovery I am now loosing sleep over finding the right place to get my pride and joy back on the road, has anyone got any recommendations?

Also the toe rags who stole it seem to have retained the ignition barrel, is it possible to reverse engineer a key from the barrel? Should i be insisting the the insurance replace all the locks with new to prevent easy entry in future?

Thank you all in advance!

Hi, try Thames Fiat in Slough. They sell commercial vehicles as well as cars so are probably geared up to repair insurance claims.

If they cant help try other Fiat dealer ships near to where you live.

Good luck

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[Kozikot]

Hi, try Thames Fiat in Slough. They sell commercial vehicles as well as cars so are probably geared up to repair insurance claims.

If they cant help try other Fiat dealer ships near to where you live.

Good luck

Think you'll find he's all sorted now...