ABUS DI 141/200 Diskus Integral Van Lock Protection FOR ALL UK vans
Independent Review by Peter Brett
You can’t have failed to notice the signs on tradesmens’ vans that say “NO TOOLS KEPT IN THIS VAN OVERNIGHT”. There is clearly a problem with theft from vans, and from what I have read in the press, it is getting worse as the economic woes continue. For a tradesman, theft of tools and equipment is a threat to his livelihood. You simply can’t work without your tools. There have been some attempts to solve this problem. Van security has improved a great deal, with manufacturers fitting central locking and deadlocks. But not everyone is able to afford a newer van – so one solution is to fit a van lock. These are usually pretty cost-effective and also effective in preventing or resisting thieves’ attempts to break in.
One of the newest is the ABUS DI 141/200. ABUS is a well-known name in the security industry with a wide range of security solutions on offer, so it is always worthwhile to see what they have on offer.
The ABUS 141 I was sent is not a specialist van lock, it can be used in a variety of situations for locking containers, garages and “lock-ups”. This general application is both a simplifying and a complicating factor in its use.
The simplifying factor is that by following the very clear instructions it takes very little time to fit it in a chosen application – based on my experience, I would say that most reasonably competent users could fit one in less than half an hour.
The complicating factor is that users should thoroughly research which applications they want to use the lock for. It is ideal for fitting to vans where the doors are side-hinged and in pairs, where the actual door locks do not impede the long fitting bolts and where they can be accessed easily. Not inside box sections for example. Vans with hatchbacks or where the single rear door is side-hinged are also not suitable for this lock. However, the good news is that this still leaves a large number of vans for which this lock is eminently suitable. A closer look at the lock reveals its strong points – no pun intended. It is based around the established quality of an ABUS Diskus padlock. This is contained within a black or white steel housing. This housing has a weather resistant coating that will withstand a lot of weathering so it won’t rust away to nothing in a short time. The keyhole is protected by a plastic escutcheon cover that will prevent water entering the “works”. Since the steel is also a good 3mm thick, it is going to be difficult to bend or distort if the lock is correctly installed.
The housing consists of two parts – the locking case and the striking plate and fitting them correctly is crucial for maximum security. The fitting instructions are clear and well illustrated. For potential “van-lockers” the warning is that the lock should be fitted on a flat surface, so it will be necessary to find a spot on the back doors where the surface is flat and no other obstructions are present.
There are two methods of proceeding once the ideal spot has been found for locating the lock. A very handy printed template is provided that enables the marking of the necessary drill holes. But once again caution is required – make sure you select the correct template option – with the escutcheon cover fixed on the top, the left door is locked and reversed it is the right door that is locked. I have to say that this is the most complicated part of the instructions, so no need to fear! Using the template it is straightforward to mark the fixing holes and then drill them with a sharp 8 or 8.5mm diameter drill bit. There are three holes on each side spaced in such a way that the fixing pressure is evenly spread, making it difficult to lever the lock away from the surface. Six bolts are supplied for fixing – these obviously have no slot or posi drive – they are simply mushroom headed. The square shanks at the head of the bolt lock into the steel lock parts so there is no need to have a spanner ready. From here it is simple to use a 13mm spanner to tighten the 6 locking nuts with their accompanying washers into place.
The mushroom shape of the bolt heads are such that, although it would be technically possible to drill the bolts away, it would be quite difficult to achieve a “start” with a drill bit. It would also take a lot longer than the average thief is prepared to risk, to drill out three bolts to gain access to a van. Since there is about 10mm or so of free movement on the locking mechanism, it is also possible to simply mark the fixing holes freehand so that they suit the door situation in front of you. Then simply drill the holes and fix as described above. Also, 3 ready cut and holed spacing sheets are provided in the kit, so small inaccuracies between door levels can be sorted out.
The lock mechanism is then operated by simply using the key to unlock the padlock. The normal doorhandle can then be used to pull open the door. Locking it is
easy, because there is still a little free play in the mechanism, so some inaccuracies can be accommodated. This ABUS lock shows that sometimes “complicated” isn’t always necessary to achieve your ends. I was able to achieve a securely locked door with about half an hour of my time, a cordless drill, a drill bit and a 13mm spanner. It is clearly very robustly made. At a retail price of about £46.20 excluding VAT surely it is worth a look – it certainly is cheaper than losing your tools or possibly even your insurance excess.
telephone 01444 440188 ToolBUSINESS+HIRE 13
Reply No. 207
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