Thieves!

[pippadee]

Hi guys, haven't been on for quite a while but after yesterday thought I should.
Went to get something from cab of the camper yesterday and some theiving B*****ds had prized the quarter light window out and luckily chucked it next doors garden, got in smashed the steering column cowl off and smashed the ignition switch. Not sure if they had damaged the switch and it wouldn't work or we were lucky the van battery was flat and so it wouldn't go anyway!! So thought you should all kno, there have also been a few notices about this on the old skool ford website too. Not sure if it's just our area or wether they will be on the move.

So now need new cowl, ignition switch and quarter light window rubber if anyone can help.
Thanks for looking Pip

[Luke]

nothing is safe these days - problem is mk1's are getting so valuable and they are reletivley easy to steal

[FredTransit]

Bugger! Why can't they just leave things alone. Sorry to hear this. Have you tried wardy-uk for the column cowling?

[the gardener]

...even if it's nailed down.... my allotment shed isn't locked after two break ins despite nothing valuable in it - no tools only netting, bits of wood and newspaper for the fire... and it still gets opened up by people climbing over the fence. If only they would shut the door! We regularly have folk driving round in the early hours of the morning looking for stuff to steal, I knew someone who saw two lads cycling down the road in the early hours with golf bags over their shoulders all out of someone's garage. You just have to make sure your insurance is up to date, the police come out after six break ins here and fingerprint four days later!

[pippadee]

Yes thanks Fred, pm'd him this morning. Police have just rung to say they should be up today to do fingerprints and have a look. No hope of catching them really tho. Apparently there are people coming up from hampshire to nick cars etc and take back.

[FredTransit]

OK glad you are sorterd for that then, I even called the bloke I got the steering wheel off, but his is a 68 and it didn't have the steering lock. Try him for the window rubber, he might have it. He's a really nice bloke and wouldn't take any money until I was happy with the wheel. Details in this thread -

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=25309

[pippadee]

Thanks Fred have just emailed him my list of needs (van ones of course!) and hope to hear something. Cheers

[madmark]

pip this is everybodys nightmere and the problem with owning mk1 and 2,s they are very easy to get into !

[twi66y]

Shame that pip .
Hope you come across these low lifes and stick a rusty iron bar up their jaxy's.
Good luck in sourcing your spares

[pippadee]

Well the vey nice crime scene policeman has been up and all we found was some very nice glove prints!
Does anyone know if the ignition locks for escorts, cortinas or other ford of same age is the same as the transit one?

He also said the best way to lock and beat the thieves was a chunky motorcycle chain around the seat base and then wrapped round steering wheel and locked with decent padlock. What car thief do you know carries a large pair of boltcutters around!! So off to our local locksmith for legth of chain.

[madmark]

pip you need a steering lock from a late mk1

[FredTransit]

pip you need a steering lock from a late mk1

The barrel is, the outside casting isn't, just to make it clear. Our 72 has a Mk2 steering lock barrel.

[pippadee]

Well, now I'm confused......
Not sure if these bits are the same but the actual lock is ok . It seems to be the plastic part with the wires on it on the rear of the casing is what they have snapped off. Are the mk1 and mk2 the same, with I guess a plug on the end of the wires?

[FredTransit]

Right, just been to have a look at the Mk1 (tip - it's easier to take the cowling off without the steering wheel!) and the Mk1 and Mk2 are totally different, only the lock barrel can be interchanged. The Mk1 electrical bit is hard wired into the loom, and the Mk2 is plugged in and twice the size, so you will need the Mk1 (electrical bit) of the ignition switch, which will need to be wired in.

[pippadee]

Cool, thanks for that Fred.