Security measures
We are just parting with our Ducatto based Autoroller to-day and collecting our nearly new Carioca.
We have been broken into in the old van at least four times.
First in France, walk to the Dunes and return to find passenger door lock screwdivered open, alarm went off but no-one was around. Lost credit cards and small items.
Took more care of not leaving cards in glove box........
Second time, Spain. Actually, three times but only one entered the truck
First was while we were watching a firework fiesta at Valencia, returned to find door lock crunched again, but not opened.
Second was a little later, sitting in the van when three thieves attempted to open the door, and third they got in when we were near Torremolinos and stole a few items.
Drilled the pop down door lock bars so we could slip a rivet pin in, stopping the thieves opening the cab doors by turning a screwdriver in the lock.
Cost nothing, worked brilliantly.
By the way, our Autoroller is far from posh.
Then last October, parked in the middle of Rome on a Sunday, thousands of people around.
We have fitted big brass combination bolts to the three doors and the boot locker.
Good idea as you don't need a key to get in, and they look indestructable.
Bad idea because they suggest you have something to lose, so the determined thief simply jemmied the side of the van open far enough to release the brass bolt.
Even then, the inside door lock held, so they jemmied and broke the catches off the kitchen window to reach in and undo the door.
This time they stole our generator, a Tom Tom, and a few other items.
Alarms seem pretty useless. People ignore them.
I am told the only effective method is to put alarms inside the van of such hideous volume that the thief can not stand the noise and has to leave, preferably deaf for a week.
Anyone know where I can get ultra loud alarms?
Peter.
