FGA Stolen !!

[Spiritof'76]

Proper hacked off today 🙁 Working in Bishops Stortford Herts fitting a rad when needed to go to the van and get drill.....as i stepped out the door i heard a noise that sounded like my central locking but thought nothing of it and after being distracted by the customer for a few seconds i opened the back of the van to find two power drills and my flue gas analyser missing !! 🙁

Not overly bothered about the Bosch battery and SDS drills as £200 will see them both replaced but the FGA is a real kick in the teeth ! I did have a 15yr old Testo up until a few weeks ago when it died.....after some searching a found a good used Testo 327 on e-bay for £200, another £300 saw it calibrated with new sensors and all good to go, well happy to have saved over £300 on a brand new one that i couldn't really afford 🙁 But now the bloody thing has gone lol and i'm back to square one 🙁

No idea how they got into what i'm 99% sure was a locked van as there is no damage to the van atall fortunately !

So, if anyone in the Herts/Essex area gets offered a Testo 327 be aware !! Unfortunately i can't even say if it has any distinguishing features as not had it more than a few weeks 🙁 Think i'll get my next one deeply engraved with my postcode.....

Grrrrrrr !!!!!!!! :83:

 

[newcastle phill]

I bet you drive a transit

 

[newcastle phill]

Perhaps With a blue key fob? ??

Anyway there is a device for 15 quid on ebay that opens locks, disables the alarm and opens rear doors in 20 seconds.

Mainly for blue keyfob transits. But being rolled out for others...

 

[newcastle phill]

https://youtu.be/LV2UyzxqpXo

 

[Spiritof'76]

Nahh lol ! Fiat Doblo Cargo 🙂

 

[newcastle phill]

Yes they do the doblo and also the dispatch

 

[newcastle phill]

Its been all over the news. Google it. Started off with transits a

 

[Spiritof'76]

Oh ! First i've heard 🙁

 

[lame plumber]

pass the serial no to testo so they can check for it during servicing, you may see it again one day

 

[Spiritof'76]

pass the serial no to testo so they can check for it during servicing, you may see it again one day

Good shout but i don't have serial number sadly as it was an e-bay purchase 3 weeks ago 🙁 JMW have just done sensors and calibrated it so will check with them if they noted the serial number onto their database 🙂

Just on e-bay now looking for another lol ! 🙁

 

[village idiot]

Just on e-bay now looking for another lol ! 🙁

Make sure you ask the seller if it is stolen as I wont put is past them to sell you the one they stole from your van.
Sorry you got robbed.

 

[Rickster123]

Good shout but i don't have serial number sadly as it was an e-bay purchase 3 weeks ago 🙁 JMW have just done sensors and calibrated it so will check with them if they noted the serial number onto their database 🙂

Just on e-bay now looking for another lol ! 🙁

Contact the person you bought from on ebay and ask them. They might still have the info you need.

 

[Spiritof'76]

Well, just had a follow up call from plod.......seemed like a nice fella but as expected i've been told not to get hopes up for any kind of result 🙁 Apparently another van was done at a similar time a mile away, there was CCTV but sadly nothing showed up on it 🙁

 

[newcastle phill]

Ive now got internal side door lock and on rear an extra lock
It adds to the inconvenience slightly. But my gear stays put

 

[Geyser]

I get nightmares about mine. Landrover defenders are notoriously easy to get into. Going out to check now!

 

[dave1]

I'm near to Bishop's Stortford and had my van done about 4 months ago. It's terrible around here at the moment for vehicle theft, especially vans and tools. I thought it had quietened down. I'll keep my ears open for you.

 

[gassafe]

You bought it off Ebay so maybe it was stolen already..?

I bought my 327 off eBay 5 years ago, when it arrived all the stickers were peeled off it, I sent it to testo & got the new sensors as you did ( I then complained to the seller that it needed new sensors & he refunded another 80 quid 😉

Good luck with it all, I have a van vault inside my van now for all the expensive stuff!

 

[Spiritof'76]

I'm near to Bishop's Stortford and had my van done about 4 months ago. It's terrible around here at the moment for vehicle theft, especially vans and tools. I thought it had quietened down. I'll keep my ears open for you.

Top man, thanks 🙂

 

[Spiritof'76]

You bought it off Ebay so maybe it was stolen already..?

I bought my 327 off eBay 5 years ago, when it arrived all the stickers were peeled off it, I sent it to testo & got the new sensors as you did ( I then complained to the seller that it needed new sensors & he refunded another 80 quid 😉

Good luck with it all, I have a van vault inside my van now for all the expensive stuff!

Well i certainly hope it wasn't hooky as i wouldn't want to be fuelling the demand for more stuff to be knicked !!

My guess is they will sit on it for a while, if the stoopid fukwits can even work out what it is ! Wouldn't have thought there would be much of a market for such a specialised thing down the pub !!..........doubt they even considered what it was, probably just assumed it was another drill or similar.

 

[newcastle phill]

Keep your eyes on gumtree
The thieves favourite haunt.

 

[Spiritof'76]

Keep your eyes on gumtree
The thieves favourite haunt.

Makes sense......that place is a bit more low key, wouldn't have even thought of looking, cheers ! Though not sure how i'm even going to recognise it as mine ?!?!
Next one defo getting engraved ! Postcode and maybe gas safe number aswell.....won't stop it being taken but more lkely to be returned and less saleable for the fukwits !!

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Makes sense......that place is a bit more low key, wouldn't have even thought of looking, cheers ! Though not sure how i'm even going to recognise it as mine ?!?!
Next one defo getting engraved ! Postcode and maybe gas safe number aswell.....won't stop it being taken but more lkely to be returned and less saleable for the fukwits !!

tbh that wont help as if its cheap enough no one will care where its from

 

[Spiritof'76]

tbh that wont help as if its cheap enough no one will care where its from

No, but if they have a stash of stuff and get rumbled one day atleast it will be easier for me to reclaim it 🙂

 

[ShaunCorbs]

No, but if they have a stash of stuff and get rumbled one day atleast it will be easier for me to reclaim it 🙂

😀 you hope

 

[newcastle phill]

Id you see it and want to view it they will either.

1. Ask to meet at a McDonald's as they just so happen to gonna be there the time you suggest.

2. Be busy and ask if a mate of theirs can deliver it

 

[stevetheplumber]

i once got a phone returned by plod as it had my home phone number engraved in it this was in the early days when phones had plastic cases and i did it with the soldering iron

 

[stevetheplumber]

No, but if they have a stash of stuff and get rumbled one day atleast it will be easier for me to reclaim it 🙂

theives ofload as soon as they cangetting caught with a stash is a mugs game

 

[Spiritof'76]

😀 you hope

I've no hope ! Just the hump lol

 

[Spiritof'76]

theives ofload as soon as they cangetting caught with a stash is a mugs game

Allow me to be an optimist ! 😛

 

[Nostrum]

Does anyone know what vans are able to be opened this way so I can avoid!?

 

[dave1]

theives ofload as soon as they cangetting caught with a stash is a mugs game

Not always true, there was a shipping container load of stolen tools found recently, the officer I met seemed to think they move them across counties all over the south East.

 

[dave1]

https://www.essex.police.uk/news_fe...june_2015/do_you_recognise_recovered_pow.aspx

 

[gassafe]

Does anyone know what vans are able to be opened this way so I can avoid!?

Deadlocks are a good visual deterrent...

 

[Nostrum]

im not sure the guys would use them though to be honest. Plus they always look tatty. I'd prefer to avoid the vulnerable vans!

 

[gassafe]

im not sure the guys would use them though to be honest. Plus they always look tatty. I'd prefer to avoid the vulnerable vans!

They look okay on my t5, pretty discreet... Only a small oval type lock on side & rear door, nothing like those big bulky locks people rivet on the outside lol!!

I got the locks 4 vans thatcham approved ones, the lock barrel is always horizontal so it always looks like there in the locked position... I only use them last thing at night, & unlock in the morning...

 

[ShaunCorbs]

https://www.essex.police.uk/news_fe...june_2015/do_you_recognise_recovered_pow.aspx

im sorry but a half dead monkey could sort half that stuff out most have names on them

 

[newcastle phill]

Ideally you want an extra slam lock adding to doors.

Re the key picking pretty much all fords with the TIBBE type key lock. Literally 10 to 20 seconds.

All transits with these keys are vulnerable.

Sad thing is ford in thier wisdom have the shi**est security as standard in particular transits and connects from 2005 to 2014.

As when you pick the lock it..
1. Opens all doors
2. Deactivates the immobiliser and honk horn alarm.
3. Gives the thieve free reign to the OBD port to plug another 20 quid device in to grab the transponder key code from the ECU.

They then...

1. Reprogram a transponder to overide the basic immobiliser.
2. Drive your van away without any forced entry.

THIS CAN HAPPEN IN ABOUT 2 MINUTES OR LESS

These devices are becoming rampant for other makes too.

I have recently got a transit as the dispatch was giving me a little issue.

I did the following...

1. Remove the door lock and disable the connection to the central locking...net effect is door lock is inactive. Attempting to pick the lock renders an alarm activation. Attempting to pick the bonnet renders an alarm activation.
2. Rewired OBD port with my own interfaced connector and retained the master connector for servicing.
If they stumble across this it will baffle the **** out of them as it complex wiring and also some piggybags from wire to wire have been altered

3. Relocated the OBD location behind the dashboard.
4. Installed additional cat1 security with microwave detection.
5. Installed internal side door lock
6. Installed external garrison rear door lock
7. Installed steering disc lock

If they wanna pinch it they will.
But ill make it as hard as possible.
And then once they get inside theyll find a heavy duty tool vault bolted to the floor.


I cant afford to lose my tools at any cost

 

[ShaunCorbs]

not hard to do

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxdz0uFtq2k

 

[newcastle phill]

Not hard but once you physically disconnect the rear of the door lock connector into the central locking they wil try and try and snap the delicate pick

Then its window out time.

But thats ild school and hardly happens by comparison. Prigs these days are going hi-tec for peanuts

 

[Nostrum]

Does the custom still use this type of key?

What about renaults VW and citreons?

Seems like keyless entry may be the next step but sometimes they'll just break I using brut force. I saw a video where they just bend the rear door of a berlingo in half pretty much!

 

[Rickster123]

Don't any of you guys use a van vault or similar bolted to the floor of the van?

 

[newcastle phill]

I do

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Don't have the space

 

[Rickster123]

Don't have the space

What are you driving?

 

[newcastle phill]

A tuc tuc by the sounds of it

 

[ShaunCorbs]

A tuc tuc by the sounds of it

No but close 😀 Vauxhall vivaro long wheel base 😀

 

[Spiritof'76]

In this technological age i wonder if there are any small tracking devices that could be fitted to more expensive items l ike fga's and top end power tools.......either hidden in the case or even inside the fga itself !

Would love to know where that tool is now and without them knowing go and pay them a visit with a length of steel barrell !! 🙂

 

[London Gas]

Berlingos... Open the front and press the button to unlock the back, stupid design.

 

[ambrosia]

berlingos you can use molegrips to pull the whole lock out

be interesting to know which vans have the best standard locks etc

got a renault kangoo myself, i brought it because it has the best fuel consumption in its class, however after VW saga i'm waiting to hear whether they faked it or not

 

[ed209]

Serial no would be on calibration cert and test centre would have it