luck or not?

[pete f]

On Tues when I collected and refilled the changer the sensor for the alarm system broke, it was a plunger style. I called my alarm guy, he came out Thursday and replaced it with a different style, and did some other stuff. Friday about 1:00 AM I get a call from the police, there was an attemped break in to the coin changer (24hrs store). I drive down, sure enough, the wall was hacked up trying to get 1 of 4 locks unlatched to break in. I have a "cage" around the changer, channel iron,, so when he tried to beak the cage the alarm went off. Little trick, do not let them in the machine before your alarm goes off, my alarm is eet to go off if they mess with the cage first. The thugs scattered. I got everything back together, minus a chunk of the wall.. I have 7 cameras, and an Alarm sign on every machine. Guess these idiots can;t read. Damage was minimal, but now I feel I need to build a better mouse trap, so I will be calling a welder to upgrade the changer cage.
So was it good luck the alram guy got me set up before I got broke into or bad luck I got broke into. Without the alarm going off I think the guys would have made it thru all the locks in time..
White dudes, 20's, wearing ski masks. Got a description of the get away truck..

[Lar Hylobates]

I have the same setup. It is 1/4" steel sheets and cage. I personally feel the 1/2 steel is the stuff to have, but have not got around to having it done.

[Jes]

Pete,

Do you have pictures?

-Jes

[pete f]

pictures of the thugs in ski masks or pics of the wall they dug a hole in?? got both.

[Jes]

I was curious to see the cage around the changer and the wall.

-Jes

[pete f]

I'll take some new ones of the changer and wall and email them next week if I can remember. The cage is going to be redone with heaver steel. It is simply angle iron around the edges that is on a hinge. When I decided to be open 24hrs I thought the 4 locks, 7 cameras, and an alarm system would deterr the thiefs. Guess I will beef up the cage now just for good measure as the rest was not quite enough.

[Anonymous]

I guess I'm either naive or just plane lucky. I have some cheap cameras that record to a time lapse VCR, but I have no alarms in place. I have a few signs stating that everthing is being recorded.

I'm 24/7, unattended.

I have a Standard changer on a pedestal that is bolted to the floor. Have not had any problems.

The l'mat has been unattended for about 15 years now, and only once has someone tried to nab the changer - about 10 years ago. And they were unsuccessful!!

There are four laundromats in town, 2 unattended. I haven't heard of any problems or break-ins from any of them. The worse I have had is some graffiti on the bathroom walls a couple of times. Prime and paint over it. Has only happened maybe twice since I've owned the store.

One of the advantages of living in a small, mid-western town. Keeping my fingers crossed......

-dave.