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Need a new van and have seen a well priced Berlingo, the only downside being it has windows in the back doors. I'm a gardener so it will have all my tools in it as well as bikes occasionally. I would black the windows out so prying eyes can't see in but do the windows make it a lot less secure? Overnight the van is backed into our garden so it wouldn't be too much of an issue most of the time.
You can get window grills or blanks to fit on the inside of the rear doors as an extra layer of security for not too much money.
They will also protect the glass from slamming the back door on a protruding handle bar😒
If someone wants in, they'll get in, usually very easily.
Smashing windows is probably not at the top of the list of easy methods used to gain entry.
I've got tinted glass in the back of my van but actually been thinking about adding clear glass because unlike those stickers that so often cry wolf, I actually don't leave any tools in there overnight so I'd rather someone sees that than break in to find out.
I had blacked out windows in my van. Turns out they can just put a brick through it to see what's inside. It might be empty but you still have to pay £££ for a new window. It's no skin off their nose.
I once got locked out of my Berlingo, the central locking (which hadn't worked for years as the key was broken) decided to lock itself whilst the key was in the ignition and I was outside the car!
Got in by going to toolstation down the road, buying the cheapest set of plumbers grips they had and carefully removing one of the windows.
That's a unique flaw of the multispace version though (the ability to open the windows from the outside with a set of pliers, electrical gremlins are just a way of life apparently), wouldn't affect the van.
I had blacked out windows in my van. Turns out they can just put a brick through it to see what’s inside. It might be empty but you still have to pay £££ for a new window. It’s no skin off their nose.
Tinted / blacked out glass tends to be a favourite for thieves as it both implies it's hiding something and it's quieter and tidier to break because the film holds the glass together. Its not silent but it doesnt sound like glass breaking and does less to alert anyone in earshot.
In some cases you can just pull the window rubber out and I've come back to my van to find the glass and seal placed neatly beside the van - although oddly the glass was clear and the van was empty anyway
In some cases you can just pull the window rubber out and I’ve come back to my van to find the glass and seal placed neatly beside the van – although oddly the glass was clear and the van was empty anyway
Once had to do that to a defender, you can get in by just putting pressure on the corner of the windows until the H-shaped seal rolls out!
This was on a modern one, you couldn't at least just unbolt the door hinges with an allen key anymore as there's then still a spring closer holding the door on.