Van theft - a cautionary tale

[Jandy61]

We are going to fit the ghost 2 and tracker, and a steering lock when parked on the drive, if they come wearing balaclavas and waving bats, I’ll give them the keys and say it wont start as the battery is drained.

 

[Corradobrit]

I'm tempted to go this route for an extra layer of security. Anyone tried these guys?

Products | CONSTRUCT | CONSTRUCT - vehicle anti-theft systems

www.construct.cz

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

I’m getting this fitted.

 

[WelshGas]

Add an Autowatch Ghost to your list. You can't start the engine without entering the pin code. Re-arms 30 seconds after the engine is turned off.

I'm sure this lady would have refused to give the Autowatch Ghost code to the scumbag, NOT.

 

[WelshGas]

You are assuming they know it needs a code. My view is sorry lads the van is broken and won't start!!!

In this case they saw the owner drive home. Do you really think these are opportunistic thefts. They'll know what they are taking and for whom.

 

[testpilottimmy]

I'm sure this lady would have refused to give the Autowatch Ghost code to the scumbag, NOT.

I guess at this point it is theft under duress rather than leaving the keys in the van, so at lease insurance will pay out.

 

[WelshGas]

I’m lucky I live behind a 12ft fence with 24hr armed guard I would love to see someone try and steel my van from my ‘home’ (when it finally arrives)


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Home Security

Practical advice on keeping your home safe and secure.

www.safety.com

 

[Chris_BLG_Ocean]

Home Security

Practical advice on keeping your home safe and secure.

www.safety.com

I should have been specific, Military armed guard on a Military base .


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[WelshGas]

I should have been specific, Military armed guard on a Military base .


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Yes I've lived on highly secure Military Bases here in the UK and in the USA. Vehicles still got stolen.

 

[Chris_BLG_Ocean]

Yes I've lived on highly secure Military Bases here in the UK and in the USA. Vehicles still got stolen.

In my 9 years service I’ve never heard of vehicles being stolen from any camps I’ve been on


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[Joker 1299]

Yes I've lived on highly secure Military Bases here in the UK and in the USA. Vehicles still got stolen.

What’s the common thread here WG? Oh, it’s you!

 

[Algor]

We are going to fit the ghost 2 and tracker, and a steering lock when parked on the drive, if they come wearing balaclavas and waving bats, I’ll give them the keys and say it wont start as the battery is drained.

Best intensions, I completely understand your point of view but the people "waving bat's "don't think the same way as you do, their brains are not wired in the same way as yours. Your death would simply be an inconvenience to their evenings work. To repeat what I said before, always deter the opportunist thief but if a group of men are going to come to your home with the intension of taking your van then your priority has to be your life and that of your loved ones. The hunk of metal on the driveway can be replaced, you cannot be replaced. Let the tracker you have paid for and the police do their jobs.

 

[OGII]

In my 9 years service I’ve never heard of vehicles being stolen from any camps I’ve been on


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Maybe things changed when the Gurkas were put on gate duty?

My address was mistakenly input as being "Hereford" by the guy completing my details for RAF Northolt. Definitely got some odd looks on subsequesnt visits.

 

[Chris_BLG_Ocean]

Maybe things changed when the Gurkas were put on gate duty?

My address was mistakenly input as being "Hereford" by the guy completing my details for RAF Northolt. Definitely got some odd looks on subsequesnt visits.

It’s well known the guy on the gate who has extra duties tends to do a better job


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[soulstyledevon]

You’ve got to layer up security.
Make life as hard as possible. Obstacles, quality locking and alarms systems.
Finally, good insurance...

Don’t bother with trackers and cameras.
Complete waste of money.
My thoughts are, once it’s gone, I don’t want it back.
It’s tainted...

It’s about putting them off or making it difficult. If they’re determined enough. Whatever they have their eye on, is going...

 

[66tim99]

You’ve got to layer up security.
Make life as hard as possible. Obstacles, quality locking and alarms systems.
Finally, good insurance...

Don’t bother with trackers and cameras.
Complete waste of money.
My thoughts are, once it’s gone, I don’t want it back.
It’s tainted...

It’s about putting them off or making it difficult. If they’re determined enough. Whatever they have their eye on, is going...

What do you use @soulstyledevon?
I read mention of VIN chips above. £35 sounds worth considering, but 10 highly visible labels stuck around the van isn’t ideal

 

[WelshGas]

What’s the common thread here WG? Oh, it’s you!

The common thread is " Don't depend on others for security". The fact you have a tall fence, a gate and security guards helps but if you take your vehicle out? You can become very complacent about security.

 

[Chris_BLG_Ocean]

The common thread is " Don't depend on others for security". The fact you have a tall fence, a gate and security guards helps but if you take your vehicle out? You can become very complacent about security.

Of course the risk increases if you leave your house but the underlying theme of this thread was theft from your home while parked on the drive.


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[WelshGas]

I agree, but 12ft high walls, steering locks, CCTV, guard dogs whatever aren't taken with you when you leave the house, so you need a system to minimise risk of theft wherever you are. Professional car thieves will wait for an opportune moment, wherever.
You can only really mitigate against the opportunist/joy rider. I don't think many Californias are the subject of opportunistic /joyrider thefts.

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

You’ve got to layer up security.
Make life as hard as possible. Obstacles, quality locking and alarms systems.
Finally, good insurance...

Don’t bother with trackers and cameras.
Complete waste of money.
My thoughts are, once it’s gone, I don’t want it back.
It’s tainted...

It’s about putting them off or making it difficult. If they’re determined enough. Whatever they have their eye on, is going...

If you mean dashcams are a waste of money I have to disagree. Slightly off topic but a member on here recently got t-boned at a junction and his dashcam footage was invaluable in his insurance claim.

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

What do you use @soulstyledevon?
I read mention of VIN chips above. £35 sounds worth considering, but 10 highly visible labels stuck around the van isn’t ideal

The window labels are very subtle. Not noticeable unless you look hard. They have your personal reference number on them. The only ‘highly visible’ label is in the windscreen and includes a QR code for police scanning.

 

[Amarillo]

If you mean dashcams are a waste of money I have to disagree. Slightly off topic but a member on here recently got t-boned at a junction and his dashcam footage was invaluable in his insurance claim.

Soon after I bought my van I had someone scrape the near side by undertaking shortly before a bus lane. He claimed I was responsible- I won’t go into the details now, but it is fully documented in another thread. No dashcam.

Then just under six months into ownership in the Polish town of Swidnica white van man reversed into me at red lights to try to extort cash from me, claiming I had rear ended him. Try to prove what happened without a dashcam! (The Polish police -bless ‘em- found CCTV footage and not only did the driver have to pay for the damage to Amarillo but was prosecuted and found guilty of dangerous driving.)

Soon after that second crash I had a dashcam fitted. Apart from a puncture, Amarillo has suffered no damage since.

Proof, if proof is needed, that dashcams do work, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

 

[Eber123]

Good morning,

That must have been a terrible experience for the lady getting her van stohlen.

We live in the country as well. From day one I actually feel saver than in the town we use to live (have I said that it was there very save). We have an electric gate and on purpose ensured that there is no high growing plants blocking the view from the house to the road and neighbours. This has the advantage that I would pick up if somebody is hanging around (even at night, expect they hide in black cloth in the dark, of course).

I always have an eye out because dogs get stohlen out of the gardens and because of this I don't like people "hanging around" at the fence / gate. Our Bison Frise is our "baby".

Have I said all that, I see two other problems. If the camper gets stohlen it is not only a terrible experience, but has many other implications.
First I don't want to even know how much I will get from the insurance company. Certainly it won't be enought to buy a replacement. I woulnd't be able to afford to finance a 4 or 5 digit figure on top of the insuranc money to replace the California. That would be then end of this.
Second, we all know that there is a shortage not only on Californias but on all campers. Even if I had enough money, would I get a replacment halfway in the way I like it? I doubt that.

Also there is the security not only at home, but when we are out and about (well, when the lockdown is lifted). I am far more nervous to park on a quite car park and go for a hike for 4 or 5 hours. We all try to go where it is remote, quite and only a few (or no) people. If I would be a thief I would target those places (and not homes).

I believe Ghost is the best alternative (maybe Pandora Pro Car Alarm). I have to look into it. Beside the price what stops me is that it might cause to much inconvinience during normal day-to-day use.

Save and secure California,
Eberhard

 

[Jenny H]

Now you see I'm just going round and round in circles with security. I'd gone off the idea of a tracker for the reason you gave but if my friend had a tracker surely she would have located the van sooner rather than the 'luck' she had that someone spotted suspicious activity in a church car park??
Again with ghost keys I'm going round in circles and currently put off with the idea of waking up to someone in my room demanding the key code

Good point.
Ive settled on getting the Disclok & have hopefully disguised my brand new van with a 5 year old number plate.
I can see its only going to get worse tbh
Also I do online Ocado shopping!!

 

[Vagophile]

We park Amarillo on an open driveway in S. London (Lewisham/Greenwich border). We don’t take any special precautions.

Same for us, we live in a hammerhead cul-de-sac and our security is Mrs L at nr. 29, Mrs R at nr. 9, Mrs S at nr. 19 and Mrs F at nr. 25. Couldn't ask for better.
We once arrived home from a long European trip at 2.00 a.m. and Mrs F was round to investigate before we had been able to unlock the front door!

Physical deterrents like clamps and steering locks are not going to prevent the type of theft described by the OP.