Motorhome stolen in France. Forums

brisey

Hi Beachbase

Sorry to hear of your disturbing experience, as Gerald has already said the gassing debate has been done to death on many forums and the conclusion is that it doesn't happen. However break ins do and preventative measures need to be taken. I can only suggest that you have a quality alarm such as the Vanbitz Strikeback fitted to your van if one is not already fitted. Also consider other additional security devices such as HeoSafe deadlocks. Most importantly though USE THEM, many people have these items fitted and on the occasion of a break in they have failed to put them to use. Hope that this experience has not detered you or your children from motorhoming.

bognormike · Moderator

Motorhome security is a tricky one; we have a safe fitted for small valuables & documents; don't leave anything else visible. When we park up or visit a supermarket in an area we don't know, I fold down the seat (on a swivel), and it's padlocked in place so nobody can get to the driver's seat to drive it away.
Ours is an Isri captain's seat, so I had to drill a hole for the padlock to go through. We had a similar device on the old van with a standard sevel seat with swivel attached. There's a couple of holes in the frame for that to be padlocked in the "reverse" position. It's a visible deterrent, and as most of the robberies are speculative happenings, we hope that any low life looking to rob or steal our van will be sufficiently deterred. (OK so far Rolling Eyes

)

Grizzly

bognormike · Moderator

rft

If you have any sort of value tied up in a 'van get a Thatcham Cat 1 combined alarm and immobiliser fitted with contacts to all doors and lockers. At night set the perimetric only but not the volumetric part (which is triggered by movement).

arrow2

It has been said before and it is worth saying again, never, ever, ever stop and sleep overnight at any continental motorway service area.

Take an exit, find a quiet town / village and stay there.

Kevin

Bill_Posters

Hmmm.

Our van does not have any kind of alarm or immobiliser fitted. I am now worried. It only has one door, with a deadlock, which I always use. Not sure what else would be best to do.

I am open to any and all suggestions.

JackieO

Some appalling stories on this thread. :/

Like Bill, I'm worried too now. Coming from a place where folks don't even lock their doors I can see I'm going to have to wise up a bit.

Bill is much better than I and for the last few months on every trip, even if it's just out with friends he has got me to lock the door every time I leave the van. I thought it was a total waste of time but can see now that just getting into the habit of it has been good for me.

Time to go looking for an alarm system methinks. :/

Thoughts are with that poor couple. The thought of losing our dog to thieves is just about more than I can bear.

Damchief

When we started motorhoming 4 years ago we had a newborn and a 3 yr old and decided (the gassing stories were rife then) to never stay anywhere but decent campsites - and we've stuck to that. We had an immobiliser and cat 1 put on the van as well. Things have been fine. But I have to say we have regularly stopped at supermarkets all over France and never thought there could be a problem!

We picked up our new van yesterday and it has some alarms security on it (previousy owner didn't use them and hadn't toured so couldn't even show us how they worked) but no other extra locks or immobiliser. We're debating what to add now - especially as the Belgian van we nearly bought last week had alls sorts of gubbins on it because they knew so many people who had been burgled.

This is a very frightening story. Looks like Carrefour (that's when you can find a way into the car park that isn't blocked by a height barrier) may be handled differently in the future. Although we have always liked taking the kids in, so they get experience with the French language (we encourage them to order things).

I hope the dogs can be reunited with their owners.