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Armoured Van Service Protects Cash Collected from Banks

3rd January 1958, Page 42
3rd January 1958
Page 42
Page 42, 3rd January 1958 — Armoured Van Service Protects Cash Collected from Banks
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AN armoured-car transport service is being operated—it is believed for the first time—in this country, collecting wages from banks and delivering to businesses with maximum security. A new companY, the Armoured Car Co., Ltd., 57 Windsor Road. Slough, Bucks, was recently formed for this purpose.

Two Austin .0mnivan 15-cwt. conversions arid a Land-Rover, operatihg under" B licences, are fully occupied at present in the Greater London area. Two more Omnivans are undergoing conversion by the company.

Following several months' market research in this country, the company are confident that there will be a growing demand for such a service, and it is intended to cover the United Kingdoni with approximately 50 vehicles, and eventually form branch offices on the Continent.

The technical adviser to the company, Mr. R. Winkelmann. who is also president of a security and patrol service in Denver, Colorado, is on a temporary visit from the United States to adapt the latest American security methods for use in Britain. The staff consider themselves employees of a normal public company. whose aim is to show businessmen that this is not a Chicago gangster's idea, but a sensible way of collecting and delivering money.

Operations usually commence in the early part of the morning. A guard. armed with a shot-gun, is seated in the reinforced rear of the van, ready to observe anything suspicious.

Immediately the .driver leaves headquarters, constant touch is maintained by two-way radio with headquarters. If a code signal is not received from the vehicles every 500 yd., the police are notified by the operator at headquarters.

On arriving at the bank, the driver enters with a bag chained to his wrist to collect the wages, while the guard watches. If he sees anything suspicious, he operates a warning light to inform the driver and sends a radio warning to base. If everything is normal, the driver re-enters the driving compartment, passes the bag to the guard, who bolts himself and the money inside the "safe."

The ignition is controlled by the guard, in case anyone attacks the driver and attempts to drive oft. Apart from this, there is an extra gun-post in the steel bulkhead behind the driver's seat, so that the guard can cover anyone in the seat With his shot-gun.

if all is well, the driver proceeds to the destination while the guard keeps in touch with base by radio and maintain; a look-out through the observation ports.

In an interview with The Commercial Motor this week. Mr. J. H. Hames, director in charge of operations in this country. spoke highly of the co-operation received from the police. No untoward events have occurred on the many deliveries that have already been completed. He was convinced that the operation of armoured vehicles would not raise the chances of their being spotted and attacked. Nevertheless, both driver and guard carry truncheons and it is an insurance condition that the guard be armed.

The vehicles are converted in the company's own workshops in Slough, in order that the special security precautions built into the vehicles are known by as small a circle as possible.

Experiments are being carried out on the Land-Rover to obtain figures on fuel consumption and manceuvrability.

The interior of the Omnivan has been reinforced with steel sheets in. thick. The " safe " is formed by a steel bulkhead behind the standard Austin cab. A door is set in the near side of the bulkhead, whilst the off side carries the radio equipment, with a table and chair. Six observation ports, two on each side and one at the front and rear of the "safe," are protected with wire mesh.

Just below the observation windows, circular apertures have been cut to afford gun ports. These are covered on the inside by sliding metal covers.

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Locations: Denver, London, Austin, Slough, Chicago

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