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Vaults Broken Into: Cant find Replacements

K

KnightWash

New member
Hello Everyone,

I am new to these forums. I have been in the carwash business since 1986.

Recently I've had a string of thefts and thieves took one of my vaults out of the bays. Its a cylinder steel Hamilton Vault with a Medco Tumbler Lock. Typically when the thieves broke into the vaults in the past they would leave the vault on the ground and steal the money inside. However this time it didn't happen. I am having trouble finding a replacement vault or any creative ways to secure the hole where the vault used to be so I can open the bays again.

I've attached a picture of where the vault used to be. Any ideas would be a huge help.

Thank you
 
If they're getting into it that easily, it might be time to go to something more secure, or maybe to install a coin-vac system.
 
I haven't heard of a Hamilton vault. Are you sure it's not D&S? In the meantime, cant you just cover the drop hole inside the meter box so the coins will just lay inside there? It's not ideal, but if you clean it out often enough it may get you by until you get a new safe head.
 
View attachment 677Yeah they are Hamilton vaults. I've called the manufacturer and they stopped making these vaults years ago. I'll try posting the picture again. Basically since the carwash is so old I want to put in minimal effort fixing this until I come up with the ideal solution. Finding a vault or finding a new use for the property. It doesnt make sense for me to start knocking out walls or installing a vac system unless I upgrade the whole carwash from 1990s levels to 2014 standards. I've created a wood panel that goes over the vault for some security, but ideally temporary and secure would be the best route for me to take.

thanks for all the suggestions.
 
It almost looks like a D&S vault head. What are the measurements? Would a D&S vault head work? Can you post a picture of a complete vault head? Harry down in Phoenix put a door over is coin vaults with a sacrificial lock on the door, then alarmed the door with a wireless alarm system. we welded a tab on the vault head and put a "hockey puck" type lock on the tab.
 
Last edited:
Randy said:
..... we welded a tab on the vault head and put a "hockey puck" type lock on the tab.
Click to expand...

We did that pluse we took the door with the Hockey puck type lock to the Welder and he welded a collar around where the Hockey Puck lock is so it surrounds that lock except for where the Key Goes.

A local guy also extended the concrete around the vault door He bolted a half cylinder of stainlss that extends out about 6" and then filled it with concrete leaving a hole for the safe door so the thieves would have more trouble working inside the recess.

For knight wash - Did they yank out the entire vault body? Can't tell from the photo. If so maybe you can just install a new one. If Not perhaps you can chop out the old one and install new. Or perhaps go to a Token only system and not worry about super secure vaults.
 
They didnt pull out the entire body. Just the steal vault which connects to the brick and steal frame inside. Thank you all for the suggestions.
 
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