What's new

Why lock your Bill Changer

Randy

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 5, 2007
Messages
5,860
Reaction score
2,211
Points
113
I got a call this morning, Easter Sunday from one of my Laundromat customers had both of his Hamilton Bill rear load changers broken into. He wanted me come right away this morning and fix them both. He got 2 bill changers in his Laundromat and they pried on the front of the validators then kicked in the door to the rear room and pried on the door on the bill changer. They got one corner open enough to get a pry bar inside on both bill changers and then completely ruined the insides of both bill changers, they never did get into either one of the bill changers. There was only about $500 in coins and cash in both bill changers. Total damages are around $8500, with an insurance deductible of $5000. So why lock your bill changer?
 

I.B. Washincars

Car Washer Emeritus
Joined
Aug 30, 2007
Messages
4,285
Reaction score
1,165
Points
113
Location
SW Indiana melon fields.
While I can see both sides of the fence on this, if I did leave mine unlocked I would never say it, especially on an open forum like this. I wouldn't want crooks to think that all you had to do was get inside any car wash eq room to find the pot of gold. That being said, mine are locked up like Fort Knox, alarmed, and have pinhole cameras. Mine are also positioned where they are well seen and lighted, but have obstructions nearby so they can't easily be rammed by a stolen car and carted off.
 

Eric H

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 30, 2007
Messages
1,297
Reaction score
753
Points
113
Location
Leominster, MA
If your customer had a door sensor and an indoor motion alarm the thieves would have been scared off long before they could have pryed the doors open. Leaving the door unlocked just allows the thieves to take an extra 30 seconds to get the money.
Two of my wishes have 2" concrete poured on the roof of the equipment room so that thieves cannot pry open the roof to get in. You can see where that technique was attempted at one wash.
 

chaz

Active member
Joined
Mar 22, 2008
Messages
920
Reaction score
111
Points
43
Location
Cincinnati, Ohio
Wow. I am guessing your Easter Sunday repair rates must be pretty cheap. Seems to me, a "live" changer would have been less costly on a holiday. Just saying!
 

PaulLovesJamie

rural 5 bay SS
Joined
Aug 30, 2007
Messages
1,320
Reaction score
229
Points
63
Location
Kutztown PA

Earl Weiss

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 31, 2007
Messages
6,372
Reaction score
943
Points
113
Having had several smash and grab burglaries at my C Store, the thieves seem to know they have a couple off minutes between the time the alarm goes off and police arriving. (They even grabbed and ran with the open empty cash register drawer. I leave it open to prevent so they can see it's empty and not damage it trying to get it open.).

Equip room doors are alarmed and there is a motion sensor as well.

As someone said "Locks keep honest people out" . My philosophy is they can also slow people down long enough for the alarm to do the work.

As noted, the numb nuts will cause more destructive damage by stupid things like prying on the front than the actual loss may be.

You can't change stupid.
 

JGinther

Zip-tie engineer
Joined
May 31, 2008
Messages
743
Reaction score
170
Points
43
Location
Loveland, CO
Total damages are around $8500, with an insurance deductible of $5000. So why lock your bill changer?
Because they get the money... Now that _______ piece of _______ will not try to get into changers at least.... Maybe a bank next time where the cops will actually try to catch him. I think you have to look at it as enabling. While the cost may be higher per incident, it keeps the crime rate lower. Also, what about when you forget to lock your door? I have done that a few too many times.
 
Top