Jeff Scott's first-hand investigation of the new-shape Ford Custom from December 2023 onwards, the triple-layer Stealth Shield developed for it, and real-world break-in evidence.
The new-shape Ford Custom launched in 2023, sharing its platform with the new Volkswagen Transporter T7 from 2025. This is Jeff Scott's ongoing, first-hand record of investigating its security from before launch through to real-world break-ins and the Stealth Shield he developed for it.
I managed to get an early look at the new Ford Custom van in December 2023. I made a close examination of where the locks were positioned in the door and how they operated, and I looked at how the factory deadlocking functioned and the software logic of how the central locking responded to the driver’s door barrel unlocking the van when the van had been locked and deadlocked by the remote control. I noted that the van has Key Free operation, where you can lock and unlock the door by simply touching the buttons on the outer door handles, and what security weaknesses this may have for van users, and that van users can turn the Key Free function off if they wish. I examined how the alarm system behaved and whether it was disarmed by the factory barrel, and noted that it wasn’t. I looked at what sensors the alarm has and noted that there are ultrasonic sensors in the load area as well as ultrasonic sensors inside the cabin area. I removed the door panels of the side load door and barn door and inspected the latch mechanisms inside the door and the wiring route. I noted that the side load door has a very similar latch / central locking mechanism to the previous Ford Custom van, but the door pin switch had been moved inside the latch, instead of being a pin switch on the bodywork. I acknowledged that there had been an improvement to the factory shield around that latch in the side load door, as that had been the most vulnerable attack point of the previous Ford Custom for four years already, and I knew that the security of this latch was the number one priority for this van.
My confidential observation at the time was that the latch shield improvement would not be anywhere near sufficient to stop thieves breaking into the van in the same way they had been breaking into the previous model Ford Custom. I did not disclose this publicly at the time, as I did not want to encourage attacks of this nature. I inspected the rear barn doors of the van and noted that they had switched to an electronic actuator system, with an electric latch at the top and an electric latch at the bottom of the door that pops the door open. I tested the functionality of it and tested the potential security issues if a thief were to attack the latches or attack the wiring in the van to manipulate the locking electronically or by software, but I did not, and still have not, publicly disclosed my findings on this. From my review of the electronic locking of the rear door, and the behaviour of the buttons to open the door from the inside, to open the main barn door from the outside, and to use the electronic button to open the second barn door, I could see that it had been a challenge for the Ford team to manage this and implement software logic that is user-friendly. I believe there have been several software updates to change the behaviour of these electronic buttons in the nearly three years since the first vans rolled off the production line, and I’m not sure the logic is ideal even now from a user’s point of view.
Read full transcript and context →
Dec 10, 2023.
My decision after reviewing this van in December 2023 was that I would need to purchase a van at the earliest possible date and begin development of security products for it, with the number one priority being a Stealth Shield to protect the latch inside the side load door. I found that there was actually a tiny bit more space inside this door than the previous model Ford Custom, between the latch mechanism and the outer skin of the door. I had developed a dual-layer shield with wrap-around features to deflect attacks straight on and from angles, but I felt compelled to out-develop myself and add an additional layer of shielding to make it triple-layer thick (6mm) in the most vulnerable places from a drilling point of view. The shield weighed in at approximately 2kg.
Registered Design — Stealth Shield (applied for 26.4.2024): view on TMDN →
Jul 26, 2024 — a new-shape Ford Custom van came to our workshop after being broken into, with a hole in the side load door and the latch attacked in the same way thieves had been breaking into the previous model Ford Custom vans since 2019. Nick, an electrician, told us there were no doors available to repair the damage, and so he might have to drive a rental van for an unknown period of time (months, or maybe a year) while he waited for Ford to begin production of doors as spare parts. I had already designed and developed a repair shield for this model van by this time, so we were able to repair the damage with our OG external bolt-on repair shield, and we also fitted our Stealth Shield and deadlocks to his van on the day he was here.
Registered Design — OG external repair shield (applied for 26.4.2024): view on TMDN →
Read full transcript and context →
Video with Nick, Jul 26, 2024.
7.08.2024 — we had a new-shape Custom van arrive in our workshop after having deadlocks fitted by a lock-fitting company (not Sussex Installations), but with no Stealth Shielding fitted inside the side load door.
We developed an Escutcheon repair shield for the deadlock on the day, while the customer was here with us in our workshop, as well as fitting our Stealth Shields and our already developed OG external shields to cover the damage lower down where the thieves had attacked the latch.
I registered the design of the Escutcheon repair shield on 20.9.2024 with the Intellectual Property Office.
Registered Design — Escutcheon repair shield (registered 20.9.2024): view on TMDN →
We published the video on our YouTube channel on Dec 13, 2024.
Dec 13, 2024.
Jun 6, 2025 — a van owner visited us with a new Ford Custom that had holes in the side load door where thieves had broken in to attack the latch mechanism. This customer was happy for a shield repair, but wanted the shield painted to the colour code of the van. By this time we had built a paint spray booth at our premises in Eastbourne, and we had already painted our OG repair shield to the colour code of the van owner’s van before he arrived. We repaired the van by fitting our colour-coded shield at a fraction of the cost the customer had been quoted for a repair from a bodyshop (he had been quoted £5,000 for a new door repair).
Jun 6, 2025.
We have been suggesting for many years at this point that owners of Ford Custom and Ford Transit MK8 vans have Stealth Shields fitted inside their doors to protect the weak points, in addition to having deadlocks, and this is what gives layers of security. This van owner is one of our customers who did have us fit our triple-layer thick Stealth Shield into the side load door of his van, as well as deadlocks. He had thieves carry out a brutal attack on his van, where they attacked the deadlock as well as making a hole low down on his door to attack the factory latch / central locking mechanism. However, these thieves were NOT successful in breaking into this van, due to our Stealth Shield being fitted inside the door protecting the weak point of the factory latch. This is in contrast to a previous video from Dec 13, 2024, where there was only a deadlock and no Stealth Shield fitted, and in that video the thieves did manage to break into the van. These real-world results tell us that having a Stealth Shield is likely to make a van more secure than buying a deadlock alone, in cases where thieves are making holes into doors to break in.
Read full transcript and context →
Aug 15, 2025.
We published a YouTube video that explains the different types of security products for the new-shape Ford Custom and what our best recommendations are for what security products to buy, what products aren’t really relevant anymore and aren’t such an effective use of a security budget, and also offers some free advice about how to use your new Ford Custom in a more secure way by understanding its features.
Read full transcript and context →
Apr 3, 2026.
We show our patent-pending Stealth Trap and Stealth Trap Anchor anti-cut-around device, developed in response to thieves cutting around external shields, and explain why having a separate internal Stealth Shield plus Stealth Trap is better than having an external shield with an internal shield connected only to that external shield.
These extracts are from genuine five-star Google reviews.
★★★★★"Bought Ford Custom side door lock guard, perfect fit, thank you and fast delivery."
Ismail Yilmaz · Google review, April 2021
★★★★★"Had the platinum package installed today for my Transit Custom by Matt."
Joe Alves · Google review, 2025
★★★★★"I took my Transit Custom to get the gold package installed. They run through every detail so you know exactly what you're getting for your money."
Bradley Thring · Google review, February 2022
Review wording has been lightly shortened for display without changing its meaning. Full reviews remain available on the Sussex Installations Google Business Profile.
The side load door's latch and central locking mechanism, in the same position as on the previous model. Ford had improved the factory shield around that latch, but my confidential assessment at the time was that the improvement would not be anywhere near sufficient to stop thieves breaking in the same way they had on the previous Ford Custom, which is why developing a Stealth Shield for this latch became the number one priority.
It's a triple-layer shield (6mm) with wrap-around features to deflect attacks straight on and from angles — an extra layer thicker than the original dual-layer design, in the most vulnerable places from a drilling point of view. It weighs approximately 2kg and is a registered design, applied for on 26.4.2024.
Real-world results say a Stealth Shield makes a real difference. In a case from December 2024, a van had only deadlocks fitted with no Stealth Shield, and thieves broke in successfully. In a later case from August 2025, a van with our triple-layer Stealth Shield fitted alongside deadlocks was attacked at both the deadlock and the latch, and the thieves did not get in.
In this exclusive video you can see how Van Security Expert Jeff Scott tests the security of the All New Ford Transit Custom. Sussex Installations are the van security experts and Director Jeff Scott examines the physical componen
Read context and full transcript →
Tradesman Nick Hempleman of Nitec Solutions Electrical Plumbing and heating Contractors brings his Brand New Shape Ford Custom van to us after he had been broken into. There's a savage hole in the side load door after thieves brok
Read context and full transcript →
Real-world evidence: a triple-layer Stealth Shield fitted alongside deadlocks stops a brutal attack on the latch and deadlock, in contrast to an earlier case with deadlocks alone.
Read context and full transcript →
Which security products are worth buying for the new-shape Ford Custom, which aren't such an effective use of budget anymore, and free advice on using the van's own features more securely.
Read context and full transcript →