Sussex Installations

Sussex Installations Helping van owners stay one step ahead of thieves. Sussex Installations designs, manufactures and installs innovative van security products.
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Every week we inspect real break-ins, analyse how thieves are changing their methods, and develop solutions!

29/07/2026

Should You Buy a RepLock for the New Ford Transit Custom?

If you've recently bought a new Ford Transit Custom, one of the first security upgrades you'll probably hear about is fitting a RepLock.

But should it really be your first upgrade?

After more than 21 years fitting van security and specialising in commercial vehicle security since 2008, I've learnt that effective van security isn't about buying the most popular product—it's about protecting the manufacturer's weakest points first.

In this video I discuss:

✔ Is a RepLock the right place to start?

✔ Are some security upgrades still being recommended because they were effective against older attack methods?

✔ How have thieves changed the way they attack modern vans?

✔ Which areas of the new Ford Transit Custom should you consider protecting first?

✔ Why I believe van security should always be based on current attack methods, not those commonly seen ten years ago.

Every van owner wants to spend their money wisely. My aim is to help you understand where your security budget will have the biggest impact based on today's break-in techniques.

Jeff Scott
Owner – Sussex Installations
Commercial Vehicle Security Specialist
Product Designer & Manufacturer

Learn more about my work:

https://www.sussexinstallations.co.uk/jeff-scott-van-security-expert.html

https://www.sussexinstallations.co.uk















24/07/2026

Thieves Stopped Dead in Their Tracks... Did They Cut Through the Roof?

When Jamie, an electrician from Dobelec, discovered his Ford Transit Custom had been targeted by thieves, his first thought was the same question many van owners ask...

"If they couldn't get through the doors... did they just cut through the roof?"

I hear this question all the time.

So rather than simply repairing the damage, Jamie agreed to sit down with me and explain exactly what happened.

Together we investigate the break-in, look at the damage, discuss why the thieves attacked the van the way they did and talk about what other tradespeople can learn from it.

After more than 21 years fitting van security, I've learnt that there is no single magic lock. Attack methods change all the time, which is why I believe van security should always be built in multiple layers.

I'd genuinely like to know what you think...

If thieves can't get through the doors, do you think they'll simply cut through the roof?

Or is that something people worry about more than actually happens?

👇 Let me know in the comments.

24/07/2026

They thought they'd found a way into this electrician's Ford Transit Custom...

But did they get in?

Find out tonight at 6:30pm. Hear the story directly from Jamie at Dobelec as we investigate what really happened.





22/07/2026

Thieves targeted a tradesman's Ford Custom van. We investigate. Electrician tells his story

Van thieves targeted this electrician's Ford Transit Custom, making a hole in the door near the deadlock before attacking one of the manufacturer's weakest points by the latch mechanism in the door.

But what happened next?

Jamie from Dobelec explains exactly what happened during the attempted break-in, while I investigate the attack, explain why the thieves chose this method and answer one of the biggest questions I hear:

"If you protect the doors... does that just mean they'll cut through the roof?"

After more than 23 years specialising in van security, I've learned there is no single magic lock or security product. Effective van security is about understanding how thieves adapt and building multiple layers of protection.

🎥 Full customer interview coming this Friday.

Jeff Scott
Owner, Sussex Installations
The OG Van Security Specialist

Find out more on our website at https://www.sussexinstallations.co.uk

Welcome to Sussex InstallationsVan thieves are constantly changing the way they attack vehicles.Every damaged van that c...
18/07/2026

Welcome to Sussex Installations

Van thieves are constantly changing the way they attack vehicles.

Every damaged van that comes through our workshop tells a story. We study those attacks to understand what thieves are doing, why they're doing it, and how van owners can better protect themselves.

Sussex Installations began in 2003 as a car and van accessory business. In 2008, we made the decision to focus on van security, and we've been helping tradespeople and businesses protect their vehicles ever since.

Thousands of professional installations, security upgrades and damaged vans taught us something important.

We realised that many existing products weren't designed by the people fitting them or repairing the damage left behind after real attacks.

That realisation changed the direction of our business.

After years of seeing the same weaknesses and developing our own ideas in the workshop, we began designing our own vehicle-specific security products in 2018. In 2021, we invested in UK manufacturing, allowing us to design, test and manufacture many of our own products in-house using CAD design, CNC laser cutting, CNC press brakes and other specialist equipment.

Today, our mission goes beyond fitting locks and shields.

We investigate how vans are attacked, analyse how theft methods are evolving, and develop practical security solutions based on real-world experience.

Here you'll find:

Real van break-in investigations
The latest theft methods and how they're evolving
Professional van security advice
Product design and development
Behind-the-scenes manufacturing
Practical security solutions developed from real-world experience

Whether you're a self-employed tradesperson, a business owner or a fleet operator, our goal is simple:

To help you stay one step ahead of van thieves.

Understanding Van Crime. Designing Better Security.

Follow Sussex Installations for real van security intelligence.

10/07/2026

THIEVES DRILLED BELOW THE SHIELD.... THEN SNAPPED THE DEADLOCK 😳

This Ford Transit Custom had already been fitted with additional security — but the thieves simply changed their attack method.

They snapped the deadlock.

Then attacked the door BELOW the existing security shield and cut another hole through the van to gain access.

This is why I say that Stealth Shields hidden inside the door that protect the latch with wrap around features to deflect attacks from angles are the most important part of adding security to a van and should be the 1st thing to buy, before buying deadlocks or external shields.

It's also why I keep saying there is no single magic lock or security product that will stop every attack as it's about adding layers of security to vans.

Van thieves adapt. Attack methods evolve. Van security has to evolve too.

After more than 23 years fitting van security, I believe in multiple layers of protection — protecting known weak points, adding additional locking security and reinforcing vulnerable areas of the vehicle.

We repaired the damage and added further protection, including hidden internal Stealth shields, Stealth Trap and deflection shield security inside the door.

The thieves changed the attack.

So we changed the protection. 💪

Would you have expected them to cut BELOW the shield?

🇬🇧 Sussex Installations — The OG Van Security Specialist.

03/07/2026

Ford Transit Custom Security: Why ONE Lock Isn't Enough! Break in Repair and Expert Van Security 💪

What's the best lock for my van?

It's a question I've been asked for years — but van security isn't about finding one magic lock or one security product.

It's about multiple layers of security. 💪

In this video, I walk around a Ford Transit Custom that's had a complete security package fitted, including visible and hidden protection, additional locks and an upgrade to the factory alarm.

The principle is the same one we were recommending back in 2018:

🔒 Protect the vehicle's known weak points
🔒 Add an additional layer of locking security
🔒 Add alarm and load-area protection

On this Transit Custom, we've used multiple layers of security, including shielding, internal Stealth protection, additional locks and a factory alarm upgrade.

Attack methods change. Van thieves adapt. That's exactly why we don't believe in putting all your faith in one product.

Layer the security. Make the attack harder. Give the next layer a chance to stop them.

I've been fitting van security for over 23 years, and this is still the approach I believe in today.

🇬🇧 Sussex Installations — The OG Van Security Specialist.

Read our original 2018 article explaining our three-strategy approach: Why we recommend multiple layers of van security

Keywords

Ford Transit Custom security, Ford Custom security, van security, layered van security, multiple layers of security, van security package, best van security, best lock for a van, van deadlocks, van hooklocks, van shields, Stealth shield, internal van shield, alarm upgrade, factory alarm upgrade, tool theft prevention, van break in prevention, protect tools in van, tradesman van security, fleet van security, commercial vehicle security, Ford Transit Custom deadlocks, Ford Transit Custom hooklocks, Ford Transit Custom shields, Ford Transit Custom alarm, Sussex Installations, Jeff Scott van security, van security expert, OG van security specialist

Find out more on our website at https://www.sussexinstallations.co.uk

24/06/2026

Rip off competitors? What should you do? How can your customers tell the difference in Quaity from Your Product and a Rip Off Product when the Rip Off Product is using Your Image of Your Quality Product to sell Their Rip Off Product!! Using Ebay's Vero interface to report copyright infringing listings and getting them taken down fast

19/06/2026

Ebay VERO Reporting for Copyright Violations by Ebay Sellers! Please share with anyone selling products online or anyone buying van security online, as images can be decieving and not a true representation of what you think you are buying, especially when the seller is using someone else's premium product picture to sell their not so premium product!!

Many businesses invest thousands of pounds creating products, taking photographs and building listings.

Unfortunately, it's not uncommon to find your images appearing elsewhere online.

In this video, I walk through a real example of how we use eBay's VeRO programme to help protect our intellectual property and product photography.

This isn't about attacking other businesses – it's about understanding your rights, protecting your brand and ensuring that customers see accurate product information.

If you manufacture products, create your own content or sell online, it's worth understanding how copyright, trademarks and design rights can help protect your business.

Have you ever found your images or content being used without permission?

Let us know in the comments.

Find Quality Made in Britain Van Security Products on our website at https://www.sussexinstallations.co.uk

13/06/2026

BBC News called us a Van Security Expert in 2017. Back then, thieves were targeting Ford Transit and Custom vans using the attack methods of the day.

Fast forward to 2026 and van crime has evolved dramatically.
We're now seeing:
✅ More aggressive attacks
✅ More damage to bodywork and doors
✅ Battery-powered cutting tools
✅ Attacks designed to bypass traditional security products

The methods have changed. The mission hasn't!

For over 20 years we've been helping tradespeople, fleet operators and business owners protect their vehicles, reduce downtime and keep their businesses moving.
If your van has already been attacked, we can help repair the damage.
If you're looking to prevent the next attack, we can help with that too.
Because when your van is off the road, your business is too.

Address

Finmere Road
Eastbourne
BN228QL

Telephone

+441323638999

Website

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