Drill attacks, service areas.

[Hell Razor5543]

Watch out when you are parking in the various service areas. My van was attacked in broad daylight between 12:30 and 13:00 today (03/10). Because of other factors (like nothing being caught on the CCTV) it is likely that I unknowingly parked right behind the perpetrators van. Although my van is visible on the CCTV, the nearside is not, and that is the door that was attacked. If (as I believe) the perpetrators WERE in the tatty Mercedes Sprinter I parked behind, and they were aware of the CCTV camera positions, them getting out on the nearside of their vehicle would mean that they also were not on camera. Thames Valley Police has informed me that there is a spate of drilling attacks happening across the Thames Valley.

Fortunately I always dead-lock the van, so they did not gain access. To give you an idea of the scale of the damage, the round hole was is round as my thumb, while the long hole is longer than my thumb. The perpetrators went at the lock mechanism where it latches onto the hasp. Now the door will not open (there is no inside latch). I KNOW it happened while I was at lunch, as less than 30 minutes earlier I had opened that door (whilst finishing off a job at a client site), and the next time I stopped was at Beaconsfield Services, on the M40 at J2.

From now on I will try and may sure my vehicle is completely covered by cameras.

[mickthemaverick]

That's pretty grim James, only good thing is that they target vans and not cars generally. Commercial van insurance will cover that activity I should think whereas a private car owner might have a battle on his hands to get a claim paid out. Maybe a couple more internal cameras are warranted?

[Michel]

That's pretty grim James, only good thing is that they target vans and not cars generally. Commercial van insurance will cover that activity I should think whereas a private car owner might have a battle on his hands to get a claim paid out. Maybe a couple more internal cameras are warranted?

That should be covered under vandalism on a normal car insurance policy Mick.

Hope you're OK James. That's rough!

[Michel]

I recall back on 9th July 1988 in Birmingham at my dad's digs - where I was staying that night because he was taking me to the British Grand Prix the next day - we'd been for a curry and were walking back down the street he lived on, and there was a guy walking down the road trying car door handles.

My dad bundled me into a doorway, and waited with me until the guy tried the car nearest to us.

Let's just say he didn't try any more car door handles for a while

[Hell Razor5543]

I am fine, as I was away from the company van when it happened. I have set in motion all the relevant wheels to get things sorted. The Police Sargent who called me back did say that the van was almost certainly on false plates, but I pointed out that they could see when I arrived on the CCTV system, note the plates of the suspect van, and then check earlier footage to see any faces were visible (such as when they came into the service area or left it, which was before I did).

[mickthemaverick]

Totally agree Mike but over the years I have come across many instances where comprehensive policy holders have had a right battle to get paid out for 'out of the ordinary' incidents. Payment for accident damage or fire etc are no problem but I've known many issues with out of the ordinary claims, eg car kicked by a horse or tree branch denting the roof etc. The issue is usually one of proof that the damage is not self inflicted and the insurance companies fight tooth and nail to avoid paying out, even if it is only to delay the payment.

[Dormouse]

Targeted attacks like this are on the increase. There are lots of things you can do internally and externally to improve the security of your van but the damage done and time lost just to get the repairs done is very high, worse if they get a personal/ valuable haul from inside.
You are quite right in trying to park where there are clear cctv camera views in the first place. Thieves will even fold your door in two to get in and they know exactly where to attack each different vans weak spots.
So sorry to hear it happened to you.

[myglaren]

Commiserations James. Ruins your day.

[GiveMeABreak]

Yes, very sorry to hear that - CCTV cameras are very hit & miss. My vehicle was 'grinded' after somebody either tried to enter or leave a parking bay next to me at Aldi - Totally scraped down the doors and rear wheel arch. Police checked the CCTV cameras at the store next to Aldi and unfortunately they had no evidence of the damage being caused due to my car's right side being obfuscated.

We did get the 'suspects' reg and details and but the Police said he was unaware of anything, so without the CCTV proof, I ended up having a fault claim to repair it. Lucky for protected NCB, but thankfully it hadn't increased my premiums by much.