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Original Sussex Installations video

New Ford Custom 2024 - All you need to know about what security is important and what is not!

Apr 3, 2026 · 1,705 recorded views

Video ID: TxRpLtdHkC4Attacks, shielding and repairApr 3, 2026 · 1,705 recorded views

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Jeff Scott’s retrospective context — 2026

The aim here was to separate meaningful security from products that are fitted merely because they are familiar or easy to sell. The correct recommendation has to follow the attack method and the actual behaviour of the vehicle.

The correct recommendation has to follow the attack method and the actual behaviour of the vehicle.

I have always tried to give the customer the best protection for the available budget. That can mean improving factory behaviour, adding an independent mechanical layer, protecting the latch internally, repairing and reinforcing externally, or improving alarm detection. It does not mean fitting every possible product without considering whether it adds genuine value.

Original description

If you’ve got a new Ford Transit Custom (2024+), this video breaks down exactly what security upgrades actually protect your van — and what’s a waste of money. We cover: Van door shields Hook locks & deadlocks Common break-in methods like peel & steal The latest protection including the Stealth Trap What thieves actually target (and why) This isn’t theory — it’s based on real-world installations and experience from Sussex Installations. 👉 If you want simple, effective van security that actually works, this is everything you need to know. 🔧 Products & Info Find the right setup for your van: https://www.sussexinstallations.co.uk/ ⚠️ Why this matters Tool theft is rising — and most vans are still far easier to break into than owners realise. The right upgrades can make your van: Slower to attack Less attractive to thieves Much harder to access 👍 If this helped Like, subscribe and follow for real-world van security advice. ford transit custom 2024, ford custom security, van security uk, van theft prevention, transit custom theft, van door shields, van deadlocks, hook locks van, peel and steal van, van break in methods, stealth trap van, van security upgrades, best van security uk, ford custom accessories, van protection uk, tradesman van security, tool theft prevention Jeff Scott from Sussex Installations demonstrates practical security upgrades for the 2024 Ford E-Transit Custom. The guide evaluates various defensive measures, such as internal shields, pedal locks, and keyless entry adjustments, to help van owners determine which investments provide the best protection against modern theft techniques. Summary

Historical context: This video records the advice, products and attack methods relevant when it was published. Current recommendations may have changed as vehicles, products and criminal methods evolved.

Common questions

In what order does Jeff recommend spending money on security for a new Ford Custom?

Internal stealth shield around the latch first, since that gives the biggest security jump for the money, then deadlocks, then external shields as the next layer, then the stealth trap (only fittable once the external shields are already in place), and finally peel and steal brackets.

Are rep locks and wiring loom guards still worth fitting to a new Ford Custom?

Not really, according to Jeff — that vulnerability, where the driver's door barrel could unlock the load area, was a real problem before Ford's 2018 facelift, but thieves have since moved to cutting straight through the bodywork to attack the latches directly, so the security improvement per pound spent on rep locks or loom guards is now very low.

Why does Jeff recommend turning off keyless ("key free") entry and double-locking by remote?

Key-free entry that unlocks just from touching the handle is a security vulnerability he recommends switching off in the vehicle settings, and double-locking by remote disables the interior release buttons and the door wiring loom as an entry point — though it should never be used if someone is left inside the van.

Transcript

Show transcript
0:00 -Hi, I'm Jeff from Sussex Installations.
0:02 -Please do subscribe to the channel. That
0:04 -way I can keep you up to date with the
0:05 -latest in van security as things change.
0:07 -We're doing a security installation to
0:08 -this van today and Sussex Installations
0:11 -is where the magic happens. [music] Stay
0:13 -tuned. What I'm really the most
0:15 -interested in is I want to give you the
0:18 -maximum security improvement per pound
0:20 -that you spend. So, the most important
0:22 -thing is our stealth shields that go
0:24 -inside of the door. the sort of security
0:26 -improvement you get by putting the
0:28 -stealth shields in, it jumps up a lot.
0:30 -The reason they didn't get into it is
0:32 -because this customer had our triple
0:34 -layer thick internal shield fitted
0:37 -around the latch and the money that you
0:39 -spend on it isn't that much. Then after
0:41 -that, it's like you add the deadlocks on
0:44 -and it jumps up a bit more in terms of
0:45 -security. After that, I would say that
0:48 -you could add on like the external
0:50 -shields as the next line of defense
0:53 -after that. If you've got our external
0:55 -shields fitted, then you should be
0:56 -having the stealth trap fitted in
0:58 -addition to the external shield. But
0:59 -you're only able to fit the stealth trap
1:01 -if you've got the external shields
1:02 -fitted. After that, you can add the peel
1:05 -and steel brackets in case someone's
1:07 -grabbing the top of the door. Today's
1:08 -job, fully electric, all new Etransit
1:12 -custom. What we've been doing with this
1:14 -Etransit custom fitting security of
1:16 -course Sussex installations. We are the
1:18 -van security specialist. We've been
1:20 -fitting our internal shields, our
1:21 -stealth shields that go inside the van
1:23 -door. Also extra been fitting our
1:26 -stealth trap which goes inside the side
1:28 -load door as well. So one of our well
1:31 -actually the first customer installation
1:32 -of that stealth trap. So really pleased
1:34 -with that to be finally on the market
1:36 -after all the time we put into it.
1:38 -External shields painted in Agate black
1:41 -color coded to the van for both side
1:43 -load doors for the left one
1:47 -for the right one.
1:50 -And it's got our barn door lower shield.
1:54 -But the barn door lower shield is
1:55 -actually in matte black. The reason for
1:57 -having matte black is where it fits on
1:59 -the van here fits really nicely with the
2:02 -matte black stripe that goes down with
2:03 -the van. So no need to color code it.
2:06 -customer chose the powder coated matte
2:08 -black for that barn door shield
2:11 -on the inside of the van. Stealth shield
2:13 -on the inside of the barn door covering
2:15 -that lower latch. So that's inside the
2:17 -door. That's double layer protection
2:19 -inside the door covering that lower
2:20 -latch. We got the deadlock at the top.
2:22 -So if it's there in the lock position,
2:24 -if it's got the deadlock on, somebody
2:26 -gets past the factory security and tries
2:28 -to open the door. It just opens couple
2:30 -of millimeters or so. Then the deadlock
2:32 -stops the door from opening any further
2:34 -than that. undo the deadlock. And you
2:36 -can see this is our hook style deadlock.
2:38 -If I turn the key, you can see that the
2:41 -hook bolt coming along there and that
2:44 -hooks in onto the reinforcement bracket
2:47 -which we fit onto the other door. Same
2:50 -thing on the side load door. Hook style
2:51 -deadlock on the side load door at the
2:53 -top. If a thief tries to open it, if a
2:55 -thief gets past the factory lock in and
2:57 -tries to open the door, it just opens
2:58 -that little bit and then the deadlock
3:01 -stops it from opening further. And then
3:03 -of course having our stealth shield
3:05 -inside the door. Triple layer thick in
3:07 -the most vulnerable places is an
3:08 -absolute beast of a shield. Really,
3:10 -really important to have inside that
3:11 -door. Having our stealth trap inside
3:13 -that door in case a thief was to start
3:15 -cutting around the shield. The stealth
3:16 -trap I think is going to play an
3:17 -important role. Top the thieves dead in
3:19 -the tracks as it were. And then our
3:22 -external shield being on the outside of
3:23 -the door painted in a gate black.
3:25 -Looking really, really good. We've got
3:28 -pilling steel brackets on the side load
3:30 -doors. So they go at the top of the side
3:31 -low door here. Right side door and left
3:34 -side door is given a reinforcement point
3:38 -on the top of this front edge of the
3:40 -door. And you got the deadlock given an
3:42 -additional reinforcement point at the
3:44 -top at the rear edge of the door. On the
3:47 -cab, we've got deadlocks on the cab.
3:49 -These are hook deadlocks as well,
3:53 -and they lock in in behind the bracket
3:56 -there, which we fitted onto the
3:58 -B-pillar. In terms of anti- theft of the
4:00 -van, we fitted a OBD port protector
4:02 -which is up behind the dashboard where
4:04 -the OBD port is. It's the point where
4:06 -mechanics would plug in for legitimate
4:08 -reasons, but yeah, thieves do use these
4:10 -ports to program in keys illegally to
4:12 -try and steal bands. [music] So, it is
4:15 -important to cover that base up. This is
4:17 -our ultra high visibility pedal lock.
4:19 -Very, very secure metal, very strong. We
4:21 -got it 10 mm thick in the most
4:23 -vulnerable places. It stands in place
4:25 -really nicely on the on the mat there.
4:27 -It's got a reflective sticker on there
4:30 -so people be able to see it through the
4:31 -window. The lid can go on from either
4:33 -direction because it's symmetrical.
4:35 -And then the padlock can go into place.
4:37 -[music] The padlock can go on with the
4:38 -key forwards like this in terms of
4:41 -making it easy for you to use. Or if you
4:43 -switch it around and put the key in from
4:46 -the back, if you're sort of technically
4:48 -inclined that you can do it that way,
4:51 -then that will be more secure in terms
4:53 -of someone trying to drill that. That's
4:54 -real thick metal. For someone trying to
4:56 -use any of these pedals, it's going to
4:58 -basically make it pretty much
4:59 -undrivable. I'm sort of doing it behind
5:01 -my back without even looking here, just
5:02 -by feel. Look at me show off. I But
5:06 -anyway, or if you think that actually
5:08 -that's just too much of a fat for you,
5:10 -just put it in from the front.
5:13 -And these vans, if you try and start
5:15 -them up, it's just going to say push the
5:18 -clutch, put your foot on the clutch to
5:19 -start. And that's impossible with this
5:22 -pedal lock in the way. Another bit of
5:24 -bonus information for you is regarding
5:26 -the keyfree locks. So if you've got your
5:29 -van where you can just touch the handle
5:30 -[music] and it unlocks itself where you
5:32 -don't actually need to use the remote
5:34 -control, that is a security
5:36 -vulnerability. So I would turn that key
5:38 -free off. Go to vehicle,
5:45 -go to locks
5:48 -and key free.
5:50 -Turn that off. And what that means if
5:53 -you turn that key free off is that if
5:55 -you're touching the handle, your van's
5:57 -not unlocking itself. If you want to get
5:59 -in the van, you will have to actually
6:00 -unlock the van. Press the unlock button
6:03 -on your remote control
6:05 -to do so. Another thing you should do is
6:08 -double lock by the remote control. And
6:10 -if you double lock it, what it means is
6:12 -[music] the interior buttons won't open
6:15 -in terms of opening up the door. So
6:17 -that's not a security vulnerability. and
6:19 -all the and all the cabling that runs
6:21 -through the side load door would not be
6:22 -a security vulnerability either. So
6:25 -really important to double lock the van
6:26 -from the remote control unless you've
6:28 -left anyone inside the van as it won't
6:30 -be safe for them cuz they won't be able
6:32 -to get out [music] of the van in the
6:33 -event of an emergency. Very valid
6:34 -question from customer on the phone and
6:36 -they're asking about rep block. I said
6:38 -haven't heard me talk about the rep
6:39 -blocks for years on the YouTube videos
6:41 -and that is really is like it was a
6:43 -massive massive problem but [music] like
6:46 -before 2018 that was when it was really
6:48 -the problem. It was on the old shape
6:50 -customs before they had the 2018
6:52 -facelift where if the thief got hold of
6:55 -the driver's door barrel it would unlock
6:57 -the load area of the van. So that
6:58 -stopped in 2018. Thieves have changed
7:01 -the way they break into vans. They're
7:03 -not grabbing the the driver's door
7:05 -barrel and that's not unlocking the back
7:06 -of the van. In this day and age, they're
7:08 -making holes through the bodywork and
7:10 -they're attacking the latches directly.
7:12 -So, the latch here straight through the
7:14 -bodywork into the latch, but more so on
7:16 -the side load door or the rear barn
7:18 -doors to get at the tools in the load
7:19 -area. Also, whether or not to put wiring
7:21 -loom guards across the front of the van
7:23 -doors here, again, I wouldn't really
7:25 -bother with that. So, I'm not saying
7:27 -that you can't have it and it won't
7:28 -offer any protection by having a rep
7:30 -lock, by having like loom guards, but
7:32 -the amount of money you're spending on
7:34 -them for the security improvement that
7:36 -you're getting is so low, I wouldn't
7:38 -really bother. Okay, so this van is
7:41 -done. Installation is finished. It's got
7:43 -our shields. It's got the extra locks.
7:45 -It's got the anti- peel and steel
7:46 -brackets. It's got the OBD port fitted
7:48 -to it. It's a really, really nice
7:50 -looking um ecustom van. and it's going
7:52 -to be a lot more secure and the tools a
7:54 -lot more secure now that it's got our
7:56 -security products fitted to it. If
7:58 -you're looking for security for your
7:59 -e-custom, your regular custom or any
8:02 -other van, get in touch via the website.
8:03 -It's www.sussexinstallations.co.uk.
8:07 -Please do give us a like to this video.
8:08 -Please do subscribe to the channel. That
8:10 -way I can keep you up to date with the
8:12 -latest inv.
8:14 -And the last thing to say is thanks for
8:16 -watching. [music]

Transcript source: the YouTube transcript supplied for this project with minor corrections. Automated transcripts can contain recognition errors and should be checked against the original video.

Page details

Author
Jeff Scott
Publisher
Sussex Installation Team Ltd
Updated
2026-08-27
Primary focus
Attacks, shielding and repair
Jeff Scott, founder of Sussex Installation Team Ltd
About the author

Jeff Scott — Van Security Specialist and Industry Educator

Jeff Scott is the founder of Sussex Installation Team Ltd (Sussex Installations). He has fitted vehicle-security systems since 1997, started Sussex Installations in 2003 and has specialised in van security since 2008. His work combines installation, vulnerability research, product design, UK manufacturing and long-term public education.

In 2009, Jeff published the first known YouTube video explaining mechanical key-operated van deadlocks. He has continued documenting van-security products, installation standards, vehicle vulnerabilities and changing attack methods ever since – earning his description as "The OG Van Security YouTuber."

Jeff has supported thousands of professional vehicle aftermarket technicians across the UK and beyond with access to technical information, while actively promoting higher quality installation standards through his trade community ifitstuff.com since 2006.