Over European highways, commercial goods, vehicles and their cargoes and even the fuel tanks on lorries have been targeted by organised crime. Euro Rastpark began working with other members of the Association of German Off-motorway Truck Stop Owners (VEDA) to combat the problems by developing a security concept. Now on offer; premium parking areas that are screened and monitored by Dallmeier products.
Regensburg-based Euro Rastpark GmbH & Co. KG operates rest stops for commercial drivers at 18 sites around Germany, many on important logistics routes. The rest areas offer eating, entertainment and shopping, and in more and more cases inexpensive overnight accommodation. For professional drivers, these rest stops (Autohöfe) close to the motorway are important waystations where they can take their legally required driving breaks.
German insurers pay an average of a million euros per business day for lost commercial goods alone; besides property damage, and threat and uncertainty felt by drivers. Even the fuel tanks on lorries have been targeted, hence theft of fuel has become a regular cause of annoyance to drivers and hauliers alike. In recent times, the police have been called to investigate as many as nine crimes a week at the Theeßen Euro Rastpark on Eastern Europe Route A2. The company has recorded high crime rates elsewhere too. Logistics companies were even compelled to warn their drivers about less safe routes.
Euro Rastpark’s premium parking areas are screened and monitored according to VEDA standards for lorries at seven of its truck stops. Their aim; a security solution that could be implemented quickly and without prohibitive expense. Managing director Johannes Witt says: “We have not relied on expensive construction, but rather on pragmatic detection and deterrent measures such as restricted approach roads, the best possible lighting and complete documentation of all movements by vehicles and people.” For coverage of vehicle movements, they decided to use a video observation product offered by another Regensburg-based company, Dallmeier.
Accordingly, DF5200HD-DN/IR type high resolution infrared cameras have now been deployed on the approach and departure roads to the separate lorry parking areas at the Theeßen Euro Rastpark. The video system is set up so that the vehicle plates are clearly readable by day, and in night recording mode. The video data is backed up by the DMS 2400 Appliance. During the project, Euro Rastpark commissioned Dallmeier to install cameras for observing the refuelling lanes as well as the retail area and cash registers in the service station shop. In all, 24 cameras are now operational and between them they monitor all critical areas. Some 96 lorry parking spaces at the Theeßen truck stop now offer safety and calm within a zone fully protected by video.
The number of thefts of vehicles, goods and fuel from the secured parking area has fallen dramatically. These new security zones also mean more peace of mind, since drivers do not have to worry about the safety of cargoes, or their personal safety. Witt adds: “Since we started this initiative, the number of robberies has fallen massively.”
