My First Van Break In......

[loulew]

So I've just experienced my first van break in. Happened an hour ago, broad daylight with the van parked at the front of site I'm working on.

Only managed to get a drill though as a cyclist disturbed them.

How's everyone else's day?

 

[SparkyChick]

Sorry to hear that, much damage to the van?

 

[loulew]

Thanks, no just a bit of damage where they've jammed a screwdriver in the drivers door lock. Took them about 15 seconds from getting out of their car to driving off again apparently.

 

[SparkyChick]

Unreal... scum... pure scum!

 

[Wilko]

Sorry to hear that. I've given you a supportive "like" ... not that I like you being robbed, not at all !

 

[loulew]

Agreed, i suppose i'm lucky its a complete mess in there at the moment, they couldn't get to all the good stuff at the bottom somewhere.

 

[loulew]

Thanks wilko, dont worry i assumed it was a supportive like.

 

[Midwest]

When I'm working, I make sure every time I get something out of my van, I double lock it afterwards. Unfortunately, the double locking has stopped working from prolonged use! Might just leave one of these in there:

 

[loulew]

I've been contemplating some deadlocks or something for a while now. Just never got round to it. But i much prefer your idea Midwest. That or some kind of trap that would make Indiana Jones quake in his fedora!

 

[Midwest]

There was some film, some years ago, that showed cars with electrocution for uninvited guests? That would be good. Fair play to the cyclist mind, still some decent law abiding people about

 

[loulew]

I was thinking more along the lines of a mad max style self-destruct but that may just be the anger talking. Yeah, she was in the right place at the right time. They could have got away with a lot more if she hadn't gone past.

 

[buzzlightyear]

garrison slamlocks Thatcham accredited slam locks garrison slamlocks for vans - Garrison Locks - http://www.garrisonlocks.co.uk/van-locks-and-security-products/garrison-slamlocks
put these on you van .have on mine.

 

[Octopus]

HandySparks has just upgraded the locks in his van - I'm sure he'll provide details later!

 

[telectrix]

need to do mine also. Garrison seems a decent price for slamlocks. only need the one. going to fit bolts to the inside of tailgate, so can only be opened from inside when these are locked in.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

need to do mine also. Garrison seems a decent price for slamlocks. only need the one. going to fit bolts to the inside of tailgate, so can only be opened from inside when these are locked in.

I like your thinking. i saw a van in my local screwfix carpark the other week, the guy had welded what looked like a piece of upside down guttering above the side door so that when unlocked it still slides out the way but by over hanging the door it stops scally wags doing this new trick of pushing in the side door and pulling the top down like a tin of fish... with his upside down guttering they cant get their hands up inside to pull, very simple but highly effective... I asked him to show me it and its literally just curved metal sheet approx 5mm thick welded onto the van with a plate on the front end and then grinded to a smooth edge. for safety reasons he has a piece of foam on it.

After my van got broken into few months back I went a bit ott and now have slam locks and extra locks i have bolted on. I also had my side door welded shut and invested in a nice van vault box. as I cant afford another financial hit, the police and insurers dont give a damn... I was thinking of putting extra metal or anti cut security cables in by the metal panels behind the racking to stop the little idiots cutting through the body to reach tools.

 

[buzzlightyear]

need to do mine also. Garrison seems a decent price for slamlocks. only need the one. going to fit bolts to the inside of tailgate, so can only be opened from inside when these are locked in.

now who said nobody takes any notice of me. joking aside works for me and alarmed.

 

[loulew]

Think I will definitely invest in some slam-locks. I like the idea of the anti-cut cable behind the racking too. My MFT is usually right next to the back door in the racking along with my drill so that would have been taken today. Luckily I have literally sent it off this morning for calibration. I have my DI Assesment next week so glad I didn't lose that.

 

[buzzlightyear]

Van security tips: how to keep your van and its contents safe - http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/vans/van/86999/van-security-tips-how-to-keep-your-van-and-its-contents-safe

 

[loulew]

Thanks Buzz, i like the look of the Garrison locks. And they're not too badly priced either. Did you fit them yourself or get a company to do them?

 

[buzzlightyear]

they were fitted by vw .get a company to fit them for you.

 

[buzzlightyear]

don't forget to put them on the back door has well.

 

[loulew]

Thanks, definitely my priority over the next few days. Definitely a wake up call. Can't risk losing anything else.

 

[loulew]

I'm going to put them on every door i think. Took them no time to get into the drivers door and press the unlock button.

 

[buzzlightyear]

what van have you got.

 

[loulew]

Transit Custom

 

[telectrix]

why do you think the pikeys always buy transits? first thing they do is work out how to get in them without a key.

 

[buzzlightyear]

Transit Custom

most vans to brake it to.Engineer's warning after mysterious van thieves strike Transit four times - http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/engineers-warning-after-mysterious-van-7874927

 

[loulew]

why do you think the pikeys always buy transits? first thing they do is work out how to get in them without a key.

I know I know! It just looked so pretty when i went van shopping!

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

@loulew Another thing you might want to consider is maybe putting secondary doors behind the main vehicle doors so that when you open the original doors you then have a 2nd set to unlock, you can make them easily enough, with metal plate and a frame just hire a welder for the day. you can get them fitted. that way if somebody peels your doors open or forces the lock, they have to spend even more time trying to cut through couple mm thick plate metal... its like a cage that sits in the back. would certainly stop any but the most determined thief....
something like on this link but choose solid plate rather then mesh...
Van interior cages - Yorkshire | ProtectAVan - https://www.protectavanltd.co.uk/van-security-cages-465-c.asp

When i replace my van sometime next year i will certainly be giving the idea of an internal cage serious thought as it will stop the idiots in their tracks, and can always be removed if i sell the van.

 

[loulew]

I was actually thinking about something like this too. Could be a nice little project too, always wanted to learn a bit of welding! But then where where does it stop? Before i know it i'll end up with an armoured van!