So, Monday went out to the van (Transit MK7) at 10.30pm to get some paperwork and the side door was ajar!
Everything gone, i used to cable and padlock stuff together, but after 7yrs and no thefts i got complacent, and havnt bothered for the last couple of years!
I have good quality deadlocks fitted to the cargo doors. but it looks like with two men, one prizing the door forwards towards the cab and another prizing outwards, levered against the wheel arch, they were able to move the door past the locking bolt, a good 2cm minimum needed before it would clear the latch/catch on the door frame. I honestly wouldnt of thought it was possible, but they were obviously well versed in the exercise, so be warned and have other measures in place. Also there was no damage to the standard lock mechanism, so i suspect they had some sort of master/override key that has been mentioned by other people that have had stuff stolen, with no obvious damage.
Ive now fitted extra eyebolts in the back of the van to secure to, also found a company online that do high quality alarmed padlocks, 110 decibels in the back of a van will hopefully be unbearable
http://www.kabrus.co.uk/xl101.html
I had one of the older style Etesia Pro 46 PHTS mowers, which i prefer because of the central handle, enabling easy lifting into the side of the van. Not to keen on the newer ones handles, so if anyone has a reasonable condition, older self propelled Pro 46 they dont need clogging up the garage/shed/lockup let me know. I have a spare Hayter mower to use for now, but its not really commercial grade, so i need to make a decision on a new mower soon. Or if anyone can suggest another model with similar handle to the Etesia, as i really dont like the traditional handle type machines.
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Hi Anthony
Really sorry to hear of your troubles. It makes me sick to the stomach to find people stealing tools that other people need to earn a decent loiving.
We are about to retire an old Pro46 Honda with GC Engine. It needs a bit of work to re-tap the threads holding the starter housing (no time to do it) so I was going to stick it on Ebay as a spares or repairs and hope to get £100-150 for it. Otherwise it works as it should, complete with grass box.
Let me know if your interested - happy to chat on the phone regarding the mower if you wanted to?
Nick
Thanks, that would be fantastic, i really like the older style machines, Ive got so used to lifting it in and out the van with the central handle i would be peaved to have to use a normal layout, lot cheaper as well :-)
I'll make a friend request so we can swap details etc off forum
So, big thanks to Nick, for basically gifting me a replacement Etesia Pro46 :-)
Drilled out and re-tapped the broken stud, replaced the recoil starter mechanism, and she was good to go.
Havnt had a definitive answer from the insurance yet, but the couple of phone calls i have had with them would certainly imply a satisfactory outcome.
Cheers Nick and LJN
Not only have they nicked your gear they have damaged your can too!
Hope you are insured and at least with damage to the van they might pay out.
I don't know where you are but I've got loads of kit and could lend you some until you are sorted?
Thanks very much for the offer, appreciated
I do have a few spare/backup, older strimmer and hedge cutters that will get me by for the time being. I was considering a new KM130 recently, glad i hadnt bought it, as i almost did a few weeks back, would be really gutted right now. Will have to buy one sooner, rather than later now tho!
I feel for you and makes me really angry to hear that you got targeted.
Talking about targeting, I had a chat with a guy passing my van the other day. He was a bit nosy and asking if I keep my tools in my van overnight. I found this question a bit strange. So I pointed to my disclaimer on the van: "No tools left in van overnight".
I am a bit worried now that they may try to come by at night and try to get in van, but then I empty it of the mower, strimmer etc and park it close to the fence that its impossible to get to the back and the side. But still its worrying. I always worry anyway, so its a bit stressful. The van is alarmed and parked under our bedroom window so I would hear. But its just so annoying having to worry about others trying to potentially wanting to steal your kit.
Sorry to hear about that! I've just had deadlocks fitted on my MK7 Transit. New deadlocks now come with a hook at the end of the bar so this cannot happen. Instead of the original deadlocks that just had the locking bar come across to secure the van