Broken into again ....! any advice ...?

Post by **shumphreys** » 27 Aug 2007, 21:33

Hi,
In France last week my 1990 VW Kamper was broken into for the second time in 5 years - really irritating, they seem to be so easy to get into. Does any one know of any ways I can make the locking system more secure? Anyone have any advice of cool ways to create hidden compartments in the van? These creeps nicked my sons portable DVD - not something that we really want to remove from the van everytime we get out of it. Yes, it was well hidden but obviously not well enough!
Any advice or thoughts would be most grateful.
Cheers
Simon

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 27 Aug 2007, 21:38

Sorry to hear about your probs. Maybe a small safe bolted somewhere out of sight? Mine`s not on view, and is bolted solidly, it`s only small though, for passports, dosh etc.

You can get a decent size digital opening one for about £20 now, bolted solidly in the back of a cupboard / through the floor might be OK?

Post by **shumphreys** » 27 Aug 2007, 21:46

Wow, that's a quick reply. Thanks for the commiserations.

If anyone can recommend good, but relatively cheap, alarm system etc I would be really grateful. Bear in mind that I'm a bit of a mechanical klutz

Quite happy to respond to personal email as I understand the need for keeping our security secrets a secret!

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 27 Aug 2007, 22:13

Toad Ai606 alarm/immobiliser, about £250 fitted well by a pro. Thatcham approved so some insurance comapnies give discount.

Post by **jamesc76** » 28 Aug 2007, 07:36

the most simple idea i use to great results is a red ratchit strap across the door handles of the front door ok they can still try your slider or rear door but there harder to brake that the fronts!!!

Post by **Tex Ritter** » 28 Aug 2007, 09:26

Have a look on Noomo's site http://www.10000things.org.uk/ there's a bit about my van security, done after we were burgled whilst asleep in a French Aire.

Post by **Jeff** » 28 Aug 2007, 18:01

something i saw in the camper mag was to use a bike lock to secure your sliding door, you thread it through the front door handle and the handle on your sliding door on the outside of your van. not only a really good way of locking the two together but also a visual deterent.They also recomended the ratchet strap across the two front doors.

cheers Jeff

Post by **brookie** » 29 Aug 2007, 15:47

Sorry to hear about your break-ins. Were you on a camp-site or just wild camping? Only ask as we've never had a prob on a camp-site (or perhaps we're just lucky?
Only tips I do when we're on a site is leave it like you're there or just coming back. ie couple of half drunk glasses of wine on table, magazine out etc.
I think the tip with the bike lock on outside door handles is a good one - I'll be doing that next year!

Post by **kentishvanman** » 31 Aug 2007, 20:12

Hi,
For a more secure locking system for your van look at safewayltd.co.uk (Safeways Ltd. 10, Grange Mount, Birkenhead, Wirral, CH43 4XW tel 0151 653 7848.)
They can also supply safes
Hope this solves the problem.
Don

Post by **Ivor Brownun** » 02 Sep 2007, 20:00

couple of top tips there, seems the way to go is ratchet strap the fronts together then exit via the slider then lock the slider handle to the front door handle with a bike lock, that just leaves the rear hatch, weld it?

must say I've been lucky so far as I can't be arsed to do all that, and in France I just used to chuck loads in the awning( on a small municipal site where sometimes we were the only ones there), we were away all day and nothing went missing.

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