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Being a bit paranoid on van security and recently being told how easy it is to break into cab doors I decided to go to further extremes.
We already have form of deadlock fitted internally.
I decided to fit Armaplate lock protectors to our Mercedes Sprinter. According to the on site info they take about 20 minutes per door. They are very expensive for what they are but I suppose you are paying for what they achieve. You can have them fitted for Ģ25 per door.
Being an Ingineer I decided to DIY. The kit arrived with no instructions but it all looked pretty obvious. A plate with four studs is mounted over the handle and arround the door edge onto a mating plate inside the door, secured with self locking nuts. Easy
So you drill the four holes accurately in the door and of course, idiot, the studs will not go into the holes and over the handle whilst overlapping the door edge. In my case the plate didn't fit the handle at all and I had to trim both plate and handle before one would slide into the other. The holes have to be slots which is why they suggest a 10mm hole to fit a 6mm bolt. But it must be in the right place, I prefered slots but they ended up about 8mm wide and 10mm long. I truth it took about four hours and much cussing to fit the first one. The second one took one and a half hours but getting the self locking too, took another hour.
I spoke to one of the fitters and came to the conclusion that they just make the holes much bigger, dont worry much about door damage that is under the plate and hit it harder.
I think the Mercedes being Four stud is much more difficult to fit than the two stud on other vans.
But have the deadlocks been a good idea? Can you get out quickly if there is a fire? Are they most useful when you are out or in? Ehm ... what are deadlocks, anyway ?
Autumn
We think the internal deadlocks as such are a good idea they are mereley a window lock fitted to the door preventing it from being opened in the event of the cab lock being forced. Hopefully now with the Armaplate fitted forcing the cab lock will be even more of a challenge and they will move on to an easier project.
Our previous Van had Safeways external deadlocks which could only be operated from outside. Excellent possitive locks to prevent entry but not wise when you are inside.
Steve, I don't want to sound thick or paranoid, but is having deadlocks inside and outside possible or just plain daft?
I am considering the Strikeback alarm, but I read in a mag about a couple who parked their van in a French supermarket carpark and when they got back to it, all the other vehicles had gone and two yobs were inside their van even though the alarm was going off. I imagine the alarm is great where there are other people who will investigate the noise and the yobs will flee but of no use in an isolated spot.
Can the deadlocks, for the sake of personal safety, be activated from the outside when you are not in the van, and the inside ones used when you are inside it? Of course, all this is pointless if the plastic windows can be smashed and entry gained that way.
I suppose in the end, it is all about detterent, making it a bit of bother to break into your van - don't like the idea of them moving on to someone else's though.
Maybe the best available security should be provided on all new (or even second-hand) vehicles at time of sale. Then the yobs will have to make the most of their opportunities in life and work for their dosh, same as me.
All you are trying to do is make it obvious to the thief that his time would be better spent elsewhere.
Fiddling with any of these to gain entry will take time and during this time the alarm will be going off hopefully making him a bit conspicuous.
If he breaks a plastic window the window alarm will go off if he then shoves a kid inside the van the van main alarm will activate etc etc.
If thieves think your van contains the crown jewels they will have it whatever you do. Our daughters car was nicked by loading onto a stolen breakdown lorry and the car alarm was going all the way out of the car park. Witnesses took the lorry number which was of course on false plates.
Many thanks for that. I'm going to wait until I collect the van next weekend and then have a cool look at the problem. I have already visited the site links you gave, so that should help a lot.
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