Break Ins on Meter Plates

[ejweiss7]

We have had several break ins over the past month on our Meter Plates which accept $, coin & credit cards. The thief is bending the box and prying the plate out. We have a bar across the top and are know placing one on the bottom. We have welded an extra piece down the center of the meter plate on the inside. Has anybody had this problem and if so any suggestions other than what we have done. See attached pictures. Thank you "The Weiss Guys" Phoenix, AZ

 

[DiamondWash]

You need to upgrade the meter box to a thicker gauge stainless such as 7 gauge.

 

[Roz]

KR high security boxes. They are thicker gauge, solid construction, with slots for bars top and bottom if you want triple level security (beefy lock system for coins and separate plug lock for bills is hidden from thieves too).

 

[Jeff_L]

I agree with thicker gauge boxes, it is what I used from KR. I also have mine encased in brick. Even that is no match for the portable grinder/cut-off tool though. I had one box recently cut into then a pry bar used to pull out the coin box. Yes, vault would have prevented that theft, but criminals might have still damaged the meter box to find out there were no quarters.

These thieves suck. I just cannot figure out why they never come by while I am there.

 

[tdlconceptsllc]

National pride, Carolina Pride & etowah valley make the boxes in 7 gauge stainless also. Do you have a shock sensor on a alarm installed also would be my next step too. Sorry buddy this happened

 

[Earl Weiss]

Since they are bending the box, it would seem the box needs to be strengthened / protected as well. Or , as stated a better Box. A Local guy reinforced / created Vault drop boxes by framing out around the box and filling with concrete with Vault below. He must have cut the wall partly for the Box. He also put a Stainless Cap around the concrete when done. (Light Gauge for easthetics and perhaps to protect concrete from erosion.)

 

[Randy]

This is the primary reason we are getting rid of the bill validators in the bays. They are too much of an easy target. We had the same problem here with thieves getting into the coin boxes to get at the bill validator. After watching video of 3 guys popping open 5 coin box face plates, cut the wiring to the face plate in less than 4 minutes and be gone it showed me how insecure they are, even with 7 gauge face they still got in. I won’t say how they do it but is incredibly easy. But then on the other had a lot of car wash operators don’t pull their cash very often. When the thieves hit the mother lode at one car wash there going to think that the next one is going to be another mother lode.

 

[OurTown]

Alarm sensors, heavy gauge boxes, recessed into masonry, lots of good cameras, and pull money often. If we all did this there wouldn't be as much talk about this. Bill validators definitely sound like a lure and that is the main reason we have not added them to our bays. We have coin vaults down below recessed in the brick with a drop tube from the meter box so there is no reason someone would try to get into ours.

 

[Earl Weiss]

Agree that I would not put the Bill acceptors in the meter face plates. Nt secure enough. That is why I went with the separate Etowah Valley box. With the right tools it's only a question of time.

 

[JMMUSTANG]

Cut out wall, install 6’ tall concrete pad with rebar, thick enough to install 2 bays back to back.
Install 7 gauge coin and credit card box recessed in the concrete 2-3” around 5’ up from floor (it’s harder to hold a grinder that high)
Install recessed coin vault 3-4” deep at the beginning of the wall in the concrete pad facing parking lot/streets, use a pvc or pipe to funnel coins into vault. Make sure you have enough downward pitch so they don’t jam up.
Install face plate with lock over vault and mark it as with your gas company name.
Install separate $ acceptor from Etowah in concrete next to coin box so electric to both boxes can be conneced together.
Install alarms and camera’s.
Since your getting hit this much make sure to install alarms on your bill changer and equipment room door.
Install cameras and put one in the equipment too.