This Article appears in our September 2005 Newsletter
Apartment Laundry Rooms: Cleaning Out Crime
By Don Neufeld
In the past few years the number of theft and vandalism problems associated with coin laundry equipment in apartment properties has become a major epidemic, to the point where the Calgary Police Service has found it necessary to set up a special task force to deal specifically with this issue. The problem is city wide and not confined to one geographic location. The police strongly encourage the owners and managers of rental properties to take steps to deter this crime, as their resources are limited and the problem has escalated in the past to include other crimes in the building such as, suite break-ins, thefts, and assaults. There are a number of things you can do to help combat this problem.
Building Security
One major area of concern is the exterior doors of the building, on both large and small properties. The front doors of larger properties are normally made from an aluminum frame and have glass panels on either side. Typically the doors have either no plate to cover the area above and below the locking mechanism, or a standard 12-inch plate that only covers the area slightly above and below the lock area. One of the drawbacks to this locking system is that by simply using a screwdriver or a bar, the door can be pried and it will open once the lock has passed the catch. A simple and cost effective way to stop this type of illegal entry is to install a plate that covers the opening between the two doors and reaches from the top of the door to a few inches from the bottom. A similar plate can be installed on the back door so that it overlaps the door frame. Owners and managers are encouraged to inspect all exterior doors to see if there are any marks around the lock and, if there are, to take steps to improve access security. There are numerous security companies that can assist you in identifying your building’s security needs, e.g. locks, doors, security cameras, alarms, etc.
Laundry Room/Equipment Security
Laundry rooms should be well lit, and if at all possible they should be located in high traffic areas in the building. There should be a window either in the door or wall so that residents can see into the room before entering, and if they are using the laundry facilities, they can see who is coming into the room. Thieves prefer rooms where they can close the doors and break into the equipment without anyone seeing them. Tenants should be encouraged to call police if they see anything suspicious and then notify the owner or manager. Surveillance cameras can act as a deterrent and provide a picture that can be passed on to the police should there be a problem.
Thieves target laundry rooms for the money they can steal from the laundry equipment. They pry their way into the machines until they get at the cash, causing hundreds of dollars in damage in the process, usually well in excess of $500. The machines are usually out of order until they can be fixed. One of the most common problems found is with the older standard coin-slide, which can be pried out of the machine. The newer style of equipment with the drop coin system or even a cashless smart card system can reduce problems significantly.
Most landlords rely on the income from laundry equipment to help offset their operational costs. It therefore seems reasonable to take some additional steps to help reduce the theft and hefty repair bill by:
- regularly emptying the coin boxes
- posting signs in the laundry room that indicate the machines are emptied regularly.
Because of the continuing problem of laundry room break-ins, theft and vandalism, the development of new technology during the past decade has resulted in innovative solutions designed to combat and virtually eliminate the problem. A reputable laundry company can provide you with further solutions.
By implementing some of these security suggestions, laundry room problems can be reduced and the safety of the residents increased. You will also create an environment that is very uninviting and unfriendly to criminals.
Don Neufeld is the Calgary Branch Manager for Phelps Apartment Laundries Ltd. and he can be reached at 236-3200.
