Well, I think I got robbed. {American Changer/Mars}

[MichaelGlenn]

Arrived at the wash this morning and all three of my American Changer hoppers were nearly empty. I filled up late yesterday afternoon so I was immediately alarmed by this. The digital counters on the units indicated the following dollar amounts had come through the bill acceptors: $135, $299 and $275 the actual count in the stackers: $35, $39 and $35 --- thus $600 in quarters somehow disappeared overnight. (Note that approx $35 in bills were in each of the stackers...) No evidence of stringing or such, no trace whatsover. I did notice a small piece of clear tape on the door, though not sure whether related. All are Mars validators.

I've spent the day worrying over what happened and how to avoid a repeat of this. Before I assume that someone intentionally did this, is it plausible that a power surge could make these all payout and some lucky passerby just helped themselves? I do not have power protection on these units. I'm also wondering if I should have the changers on a timer to shutoff at midnight?

I plan to call American Changer first thing in the morning. Until then, anyone have any idea of what in the hell may have happened here??


Disturbing to think this stuff is out there:
In my searching the internet for answers, I came across a few How To links for ripping off change machines: https://kpynyvym6xqi7wz2.onion.to/abeatmac.txt

 

[Randy]

Pretty much sounds to me like you’ve been strung. Here’s what you need to do. Check to make sure your bill boxes have metal teeth in them, the older bill boxes don’t have the steel teeth. Have your MEI/Mars validators reprogrammed with the latest software, its version 3.57. Then activate the anti-stringing portion of the software. This will shut down the validator if it detects stringing attempt. Only MEI/Mars validators manufactured in 2004 and on have the memory to accept this program.

 

[MichaelGlenn]

All of the bill boxes have the metal teeth, no sign of any shreaded bills.

I'm pretty sure that at least one of these Mars validators is just a couple months old so I would assume the latest software.

 

[slash007]

I have Hamilton changers with Mars acceptors and one time just over a year ago during a lighting storm one of my boxes was just giving out change for free. It ended up erroring out and shutting down, but not before it gave out over $50. I checked on the camera and saw it happen, so other than people walking up to the changer and filling their pockets for free, no one strung the machine or anything else.

 

[MichaelGlenn]

Did your counters also roll up with the payout? Mine did. I guess this may be another sign that I was strung.

 

[2Biz]

You don't have cameras monitoring your changers? If not, might be a good time to invest.

When we bought our wash almost 3 years ago, we got strung and the Perp emptied our hopper. He got $400-$500.... This happened just a week after we took ownership. The P.O. had a cheap low quality 4 camera system set up with one camera on the changer... The cameras were hidden. Even the cheap system helped us catch the Perp and he did 1 year in jail.... I've since replaced the that system with a 16 camera system and all cameras are out in the open and posted. We haven't had another stringing issue.

Something to think about....

 

[MichaelGlenn]

I've ordered a 16 channel Q-See camera system from Costco and plan to install shortly. Also was able to speak with Jim at Etowah Valley Equipment about my Mars validators - - they are going to flash the software with the latest security enhancements, hoping this will help against future stringing. Also going to change my lighting timers to leave all my parking lights on all night... duh, something I should have already done! Live, learn.

 

[2Biz]

I installed a T5HO double bulb fixture right above my changer. There was no light at all over the changer when we bought the wash. There were only (3) vac lights in front of the wash and they didn't light up the changer area too well. The T5HO lights up the changer and Security Sign real nice!

I have the same 16 channel Q-See from Costco. It also helped me track down a guy that tried to shoe horn a 1 ton flat bed into one of my bays. It would have fit, but not at the angle he was coming in at! Needless to say he hit and ran. He did several thousand $$$ worth of damage. Your cameras will pay for themselves easily.....Not only when you need to catch somebody doing something wrong but they are also great for deterrence.

 

[Kevin James]

Welcome to the wonderful low profit world of being a car wash owner. My girlfriend works in the prosecutor’s office and this is what she tells me. If you can’t get a mug shot quality photo with your camera system of the perk then you’re pretty much wasting your money. A license plate doesn’t do much good if you can’t ID the driver.

Here are a few tips that we’ve learned.

Only put enough coins in the changer hopper for the day.

Pickup or pull all the money from all the equipment every day. I don’t know of to many businesses that leave any money in the tills for very long. Most stores pull there tills a couple times a day.

Keep the property well lighted at night, most thieves don’t like a lot of lights.

Once the thieves hit it big at one car wash there going to think that they will be hitting it big at the next car wash, pull the money daily