Barclays Bank reports it has foiled an attempted armed robbery using Smokecloak from Martin Security Smoke for the second time this year.
Two criminals brandishing a shotgun and a sledgehammer dropped their weapons and fled from the bank’s Culcheth branch in Manchester when a member of staff activated the revolutionary security solution and filled the room with thick artificial smoke. One man unsuccessfully attempted to smash the reinforced security screen while the other threatened to shoot members of staff. Smokecloak’s glycol-based fog filled the room in less than 20 seconds, confusing the assailants who panicked and ran.
Police discovered the burnt-out wreck of the criminals’ car around half a mile from the bank and are following leads on the two men’s whereabouts. No customers were in the building at the time of the attack, which occurred shortly before the bank was due to close. This follows a foiled attempt on the same building in April 2004 when the smoke product prevented a theft by men equipped with axes.
What they say
"The staff and management at the bank were extremely grateful for the protection provided by the Smokecloak, robberies and burglaries are extremely distressing for the victims, and can cause serious damage to companies’ stock, premises and profitability," says MD of Martin Security Smoke Paul Dards and inventor of the Smokecloak system. He adds: “Smokecloak essentially provides instant protection for companies and in this case, more importantly, for people."
What end user says
“We are delighted that Smokecloak has yet again defeated a violent robbery. It is a leading security product in our armoury,” says senior manager security section of Barclays Tony Bayliss QPM. “We are already doubling the installation programme and identifying further vulnerable sites for future installations. We believe it is the most effective robbery deterrent.”
About Martin Security Smoke
Martin is a producer and distributor of computer controlled equipment for providing protection in case of a break-in. Its smoke machines under the Smokecloak brand work with existing alarm installations.
