The recent increase in retail bombing, grinding and impact attacks on Cash Acceptance Devices (CAD) in the retail sector has prompted a relook at the technology required to protect both staff and assets.
Wahl Bartmann, group chief executive officer, Fidelity Services Group, says Fidelity CashMaster is one of the larger players when it comes to cash storage devices and cash management solutions with over 5000 devices installed countrywide. Fidelity CashMaster solutions offer businesses a customised end-to-end cash management solution. The company provides a range of products from small under-counter cash devices through to large scale devices for small, medium and large businesses.
“We also offer financial management software, and productivity enhancing processes and procedures to improve business throughput,” says Bartmann.
Bartmann says that, unfortunately, bombings are a reality that every device manufacturer needs to contend with, particularly with the lack of control over access to explosives. 2020 started the year with one cash-in-transit incident virtually every day. This trend affects all canister safe manufacturers equally, he says. Syndicates have become increasingly sophisticated requiring ongoing updates in technology innovation.
Making safes safer
“Fortunately, additional measures have been introduced, such as ensuring all safes have concrete inside and are steel-plated, has served as a deterrent to criminals. As an added layer of protection, bag security features have been introduced which completely disable access to the money in the device and this has deterred criminals looking for quick gains. The problem, however, remains that, even if the money is destroyed, the damage to the customers’ premises can be extensive, resulting in loss of business.”
Bartmann says over the last 12 months Fidelity has introduced a number of new advances. The first is the Gatekeeper which is the first product of its type specifically designed for the petroleum and fast food industries that offers 24/7 trading. It includes a secondary door with a time-delay lock which can be fitted to any ATM or Cash Acceptance Device Cameo. “It not only protects the note acceptor openings from tampering by explosives during high risk hours – traditionally between 20:00 and 06:00 – but can also be deactivated during secure business hours. Clearly this protects both the asset and prevents damage to property and staff.”
The second innovation is a bomb resistant safe which is able to stay intact even after an explosion. “It releases an explosive force,” explains Bartmann, “but keeps the safe structure intact and keeps the money safe.”
Secure cash solution
“Then more recently we introduced the CashMaster Cube. This is ideal for deployment in any logistics or delivery vehicle as well as offering a secure cash solution for the smaller retailer as a manual drop safe,” says Bartmann.
This product offers SARB- and SABS-approved, new generation liquid dye stain, the most successful deterrent to any criminal attack in the market. Bartmann says it sends a message to criminals that there is no point trying to steal cash protected by dye staining systems because they will be unable to use the cash after a theft or robbery occurred.
“We understand that exposure to violent armed robbery increases proportionately to the amount of cash either in tills or back offices, and appreciate that some sectors are more vulnerable than others. As the syndicates evolve, so too is there a necessity for our research and development teams to work on new solutions that will revolutionise our fight against crime/bombings/grindings and we are delighted have two new offerings,” concludes Bartmann.
For more information, contact Fidelity-ADT,
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