Theft from motorhome

[maingate]

Thanks for all these ideas. I think some sort of alarm will be in order, so advice is welcome.
In other news because it's a Eura Mobil, the repair place has said it will take two to three months just to order the parts, not including fitting.
It's going to take a long time before I feel safe again. My home was burgled 14 years ago and I still feel anxious every time I lock my back door.

I am no expert on the Euromobil vans and you have not given any details of year or model ...... but ........ if it is just window damage then it is probably made by Seitz or Remis or even Heki. The windows or parts for them are readily available. I am very surprised at the repair place talking about long delivery times for parts. I would have a search online yourself.

 

[yorkslass]

Thanks for all these ideas. I think some sort of alarm will be in order, so advice is welcome.
In other news because it's a Eura Mobil, the repair place has said it will take two to three months just to order the parts, not including fitting.
It's going to take a long time before I feel safe again. My home was burgled 14 years ago and I still feel anxious every time I lock my back door.

It may be worth getting in touch with O'Leary motorhomes as they may stock spare window parts.

 

[Gayle]

There are mobile alarm fitting companies - this may be the cheapest option.

Where are you based?

County Durham.
Just had a look at those 'growler' alarms online. They sound brilliant. Cost about a grand. Does that sound about right? Never bothered about such things when we had our old vdub.

 

[trevskoda]

Sorry to hear you got broken into ....

We got burgled a few years ago at home. It has taken SWMBO ages to get over it. I fitted 50mm x 25mm timber to the top of all the garden fence panels with plasterboard screws every 25mm. It keeps the cats off as well. Any that do jump on the fence jump off again quickly. Also fitted over side gates. Alarm Fitted and we have electric shutters on the back downstairs windows that we use every time we go out. Bit like locking the stable door but we do feel safe at night and lots of other houses around that are a far easier target than ours is.

As for the MH. Got a small safe that you attach to something strong. Did not use it in the SWIFT :raofl: but have found something nice and strong in the new MH. As for windows I always thought that the ones on the Swift were vulnerable as you could get something under the edge of the window and just pull. New MH has recessed windows. At the end of the day if they want to get in they will so you just have to be careful where you leave it. We stopped at one NT site which was just a car park and a walk to a small house. BIG Signs all over THIEVES Operate in this area so we had lunch, I took the dog for a quick walk and we left.

..

at my last nab/hood watch cop about fitting of b/wire glass etc and was told i could be held accountable if a child under 10 was hurt ,you can only fix deterants a few feet behind you fence and must erect a warning sine to the required regulation.

 

[trevskoda]

i've often thought that a tape of a large dog growling could be a deterrent

how long would the tape be and would it be imp or metric.:raofl::idea:

 

[n brown]

at my last nab/hood watch cop about fitting of b/wire glass etc and was told i could be held accountable if a child under 10 was hurt ,you can only fix deterants a few feet behind you fence and must erect a warning sine to the required regulation.

that's all very well Trev,but if i turn off my electric fence, the lions will escape and the robbers could drown in the moat or get eaten by the crocs,and i suppose that's not allowed either !

 

[Gayle]

I am no expert on the Euromobil vans and you have not given any details of year or model ...... but ........ if it is just window damage then it is probably made by Seitz or Remis or even Heki. The windows or parts for them are readily available. I am very surprised at the repair place talking about long delivery times for parts. I would have a search online yourself.

It's a Profila 622 2007. No idea what brand the windows are. Sounds like it's pointless asking the repair place about upgrading from what previous posters have been saying. Design flaw. Wonder if we could get none opening windows - at least for the bedroom area.
They also damaged the wooden bed frame and flats pulling it up to get into the cubby underneath. Luckily the mattress toppers etc make getting in that way very awkward, we tend to use the external door.
And tore the blind off.

 

[Gayle]

It may be worth getting in touch with O'Leary motorhomes as they may stock spare window parts.

Thanks for that. We'll have a look into them tomorrow. Going to phone a few other caravan and motorhome places as well as they often have repair shops. Our local one used to be good but it seems like they might be winding down and not taking any new work.
Hoping the insurance might at least cover the damage to the van even though it won't cover all the stolen contents.

 

[trevskoda]

I did have that on it, luckily enough. So I've remotely locked it and put a message on that I won't type in full here as I use a word I never normally use and then stated that the webcam has taken a photo and sent it to the police. The AP only works if they go online with my MacBook abd currently it's off line. I keep checking it, though, as if it goes online it will pinpoint the exact location.

a wast of time as all they do is put a linux g/wipe disk through it and all is cleared so they can reboot with there prefared operating sys and sell on ebay.

 

[Gayle]

a wast of time as all they do is put a linux g/wipe disk through it and all is cleared so they can reboot with there prefared operating sys and sell on ebay.

It's a MacBook air and doesn't have a disc drive. It's locked (remotely by me) with a four digit code so if they put a usb in it wouldn't read it without booting up (I think). Although I know they will Beautiful Days able to take it to one of those unlocking places.

 

[Gayle]

It's a MacBook air and doesn't have a disc drive. It's locked (remotely by me) with a four digit code so if they put a usb in it wouldn't read it without booting up (I think). Although I know they will Beautiful Days able to take it to one of those unlocking places.

Be not Beautiful Days
My phone auto corrects b d to Beautiful Days.

 

[Channa]

i've often thought that a tape of a large dog growling could be a deterrent

I have seen people put dog bowls outside when they dont have a dog !!

The problem with a lot of alarms are that we fit them put a sticker on the window with the make....the pros are thinking thank you you have potentially told me how its wired.

Alarms do seem the best bet though. Even on domestic properties a lot have upvc doors not all I can be in within 15 seconds. ( not that i have been a burglar but we had to do it occasionally on the campsites)

Aint it sad we have to think this way.

Channa

 

[maingate]

It's a Profila 622 2007. No idea what brand the windows are. Sounds like it's pointless asking the repair place about upgrading from what previous posters have been saying. Design flaw. Wonder if we could get none opening windows - at least for the bedroom area.
They also damaged the wooden bed frame and flats pulling it up to get into the cubby underneath. Luckily the mattress toppers etc make getting in that way very awkward, we tend to use the external door.
And tore the blind off.

It is also pointless phoning O'Leary unless you know what make of window and what size you need. Five minutes on a search engine for 'Euromobil Dealers' or 'Euromobil spares and accessories' will give you lots of information.

Now that we have got the model and year, somebody who owns one on here might know what you want as a replacement. Don't bother thinking about a different type, they are all very similar regarding security.

By the way, who is doing the repair work for you? There are one or two companies in the North East that I would not touch with a bargepole. Hopefully you have not got one of them.

 

[zantiagreen]

Insurance

Hi Gayle
Check your home insurance. If you have cover for your contents away from the home or personal belongings cover you should be covered for your stolen items as force or violence has been used to gain entry?
Sorry to hear you've been targeted - this is close to my home and I'm surprised any scum were out this weekend in view of the typical Yorkshire weather LOL
Good Luck
Jill

 

[Canalsman]

The insurance on your 'van will pay for its repair. Have you made contact with them, and do you have a Police incident number?

 

[Gayle]

It is also pointless phoning O'Leary unless you know what make of window and what size you need. Five minutes on a search engine for 'Euromobil Dealers' or 'Euromobil spares and accessories' will give you lots of information.

Now that we have got the model and year, somebody who owns one on here might know what you want as a replacement. Don't bother thinking about a different type, they are all very similar regarding security.

By the way, who is doing the repair work for you? There are one or two companies in the North East that I would not touch with a bargepole. Hopefully you have not got one of them.

Haven't entirely decided who is doing the work as the place we were recommended can't get the parts for months and the place we originally intended to take it no longer does repairs. We are going to phone round tomorrow. If you could be so kind as to PM me with either places you recommend up here or ones to avoid that would be helpful. Thanks.

 

[Gayle]

Hi Gayle
Check your home insurance. If you have cover for your contents away from the home or personal belongings cover you should be covered for your stolen items as force or violence has been used to gain entry?
Sorry to hear you've been targeted - this is close to my home and I'm surprised any scum were out this weekend in view of the typical Yorkshire weather LOL
Good Luck
Jill

Thanks Jill. We've been looking into that today. Accidental damage but not theft from vehicle it seems. And the van insurance is capped at £250/item. My MacBook was less than two months old. If we hadn't had the safe I wouldn't have taken it with me.

 

[Gayle]

The insurance on your 'van will pay for its repair. Have you made contact with them, and do you have a Police incident number?

Thanks. Yes - we have a police incident number and contacted the insurance today. They need us to get them a quote and we need a repair place that can supply and fit the broken things, but would prefer it not to take months. We are going to take the van to the place who told us a two - three month wait in the morning. Hopefully we can have something more concrete for the insurance then.

 

[pheasantplucker]

I have long thought that the windows of a MH are it's weak point so far as being broken into. I am constantly amazed at some of the windows that I see on display fitted to even the very latest MH's that we have looked at at the shows. In particular the one's that alarm me most are the type that do not close within their own frame, but instead when closed they are actually proud of the skin of the hab' area so that you can quite easily get your fingers between the bodywork of the MH and the opening light itself. How easy is that to break into I have often wondered. More by chance than choice our Chausson has windows that close into their own frame and therefore you would need a thin sheet metal lever to be able to force the window open. Once you have that device then I am sure that it would be as easy to break into as anything else, but at least you are making life a little harder for potential thieves. The only thing that is maybe going to stop them then is to alarm the windows and possibly the interior of the camper, but even all that would be far from an ideal situation, and until the manufactures come up with a more secure setup for MH windows they will continue to be the Achilles heel of MH security.

We have a dog. Well, strictly speaking an electronic dog. Called the Barking Dog Alarm, it can be powered from a transformer or 6 AA batteries and does a creditable impression of an Alsatian when it senses movement outside the van.

It senses our neighbours through a block wall if we have it at home, but mostly now we keep it in the van.

Downside? It tells me when the wife goes for a pee in the night and movement of any sort,(like the geese when wildcamping at Ypres, can set it off. the ducks at Brean

 

[Captain Biggles]

Thanks for all these ideas. I think some sort of alarm will be in order, so advice is welcome.
In other news because it's a Eura Mobil, the repair place has said it will take two to three months just to order the parts, not including fitting.
It's going to take a long time before I feel safe again. My home was burgled 14 years ago and I still feel anxious every time I lock my back door.

"....the repair place has said it will take two to three months just to order the parts, not including fitting.....". I'm afraid that I'd have a few choice words and some strong advice from any 'tin-pot' Company who even hinted at that to me, may be an idea to remind them who the Customer is, or ask them to justify their observation or even better tell us all who this 'tin-pot' organisation is (after getting them to put that in writing, of course)?.....

good luck!

Captain Biggles lane: