2019 has started off with a rash of break-ins. Mostly on vacuums, but some on the coin boxes and vendors. Most operators are telling me the same thing. "They didn't get much money, but the damage done was significant." All have been asking what can be done to stop, or reduce this carnage? I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that break-ins, with the damage they do and simply general vandalism, is a not uncommon occurrence at the car wash. Most of us have gone the camera route, but the bad guys know how to avoid them. Even if they're seen on camera, there's little to nothing which can be done to catch them and even less in which to get your money back for the loss and damage. Putting the loss through insurance has its own problems. High deductibles, the hassle to get quotes and have them accepted, the possibility of having your insurance company drop you if you have too many claims. Not a very enjoyable experience.

There are some things you can do to lessen the loss and damage from these happenings. You can and should empty the money boxes daily and, although we don't expect these criminals to be too bright, post signs stating MONEY IS EMPTIED DAILY. For extra security, the vacuums could be modified to drop the coins into a vault, located beneath the vacuums, or if you really wanted to be secure the money could be vacuumed up from the customer vacuums and even the bay coin boxes. This money would be transported to a secure vault in your equipment room. There would never be any money for them to steal. For sites where there is good cover for thieves and vandals to attack your vacuums, you could convert them to tokens only, which would vend from the bill changer. These chunks of metal are not what
thieves want. Accepting them in your bays encourages customers
to come back as well because they have some tokens left over
from the purchase.

Another solution is to install Credit/Debit card readers on the vacuums and bays. If you have a modern vending machine, it could also be set up to take cards. These devices work with credit cards, debit cards, and most phone apps. We recently installed one such device on a car wash bay where the owner decided to not accept any money at all in the bay. Only cards and phone apps. Admittedly a drastic approach, but we all know there comes a point where you say, "Enough is enough" and take drastic measures. If any of these solutions sound like it may be what you need, please call PELCO. We would be most happy to advise or assist in whatever you wanted to do.