View source for Engineering:Armored car (valuables)

{{Short description|Specially-designed vehicle used to ensure safe transport of valuables and people}}
[[File:Armored-truck.jpg|thumb|right|Prosegur armored van in Barcelona]]
[[File:Garda armored car Ypsilanti Township Michigan.JPG|thumb|right|An armored Garda van, in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan]]
[[File:CTK armored van on the Philippine island of Palawan.jpg|thumb|200px|CTK armored van in the Philippines]]

An '''armored vehicle''' (also known as an '''armored cash transport car''', '''security van''', or '''armored truck''') is an armored van or truck used to transport valuables, such as large quantities of money or other valuables, especially for banks or retail companies. The armored car is typically a multifunctional vehicle designed to protect and ensure the wellbeing of the transported contents and guards. Typically customized on a basic van or truck chassis, they feature bullet-resistant glass, [[Engineering:Vehicle armour|armor plating]], and reinforced shells and cabs. Armored cars are designed to resist attempts at robbery and hijacking, being able to withstand bullets from most handguns and rifles, as well as extreme degrees of heat, explosives, and collisions.

==History==
The earliest form of armored transportation for valuables that actually went into production were the "ironclad" treasure wagons designed by the Cheyenne and Black Hills Stage Company during the [[History:American frontier|American Old West]].<ref name="West">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.truewestmagazine.com/the-original-war-wagon/|title=The Original War Wagon|magazine=True West Magazine|author=Markley, Bill}} November 24, 2015</ref> Back then, a platoon of soldiers and cavalrymen were used to transport valuables such as gold safely across the lawless frontier. They were not always successful in escorting their valuables, and some robbers managed to hold up and rob these transports, such as what happened in the Wham Paymaster robbery and the Skeleton Canyon massacres. In Deadwood, the Cheyenne and Black Hills Stage Company suffered robberies along the criminal-infested Deadwood to Cheyenne trail that also resulted in the death of one of their shotgun messengers named Johnny Slaughter. To deter bandits and prevent future robberies, the Stage Company built two steel-plated treasure coaches named ''Slaughter'' (after the former shotgun messenger) and ''Monitor'' (after the famous USS ''Monitor'' in the American Civil War). The stagecoaches had 5/16th-inch thick steel plates, portholes for guards to shoot from, and inside of each coach was a strongbox with walls three inches thick that was bolted to the floor, and was said to be able to resist assaults for 24 hours. Although the stage coaches were impenetrable, they still left its driver and shotgun messenger unprotected.<ref name="West"/> On September 26, 1878, the Monitor was attacked by the Charles Carey Gang as it left Deadwood. The gang killed one of the passengers, stopped the carriage and took over $27,000 worth of gold and valuables.

Among the first armored cars built was the Bellamore Armored Motor Bank Car, of 1910, which was meant to function like the banking service armored cars of today, but also as a mobile bank branch.<ref>Weis, Bernard J, "Dollars at Your Doorstep, Mr. Bellamore's Bank-On-Wheels", p.54, Special Interest Autos No. 81, June 1984.</ref> It was built on an Autocar Type XXI truck.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bellamore Armored Car & Equipment Co., David H. Bellamore, Autocar, first armored car, Mosler Safe |url=http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/b/bellamore/bellamore.htm|access-date=February 5, 2023|website=coachbuilt.com}}</ref> It was not until [[Company:Rolls-Royce Limited|Rolls-Royce]] came out with the Rolls-Royce Armoured Car in August 1914 that the first armored vehicle was introduced to the British military. The vehicle proved to be superior during the war, creating a demand for armored cars across the globe. In 1930, [[Company:Mercedes-Benz|Mercedes-Benz]] introduced the Nurburg 460, which was an armored car used to protect Pope Pius XI. As the armored car became more and more popular, vehicle manufacturers around the world started creating their own versions.

==Usage==

=== Financial industry ===
Armored cars are most prominently used in the financial industry to transport currency, financial information, or other valuable assets.

=== Jewelry ===
Many jewelers use armored cars to transport jewelry and materials to their stores, as the valuable nature of such items make them vulnerable to potential robbery attempts.<ref>{{cite web|title=Diplomatic Security |url=http://www.diplomaticsecurity.org/why-businesses-use-armored-cars |access-date=September 20, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010010620/http://www.diplomaticsecurity.org/why-businesses-use-armored-cars/ |archive-date=October 10, 2011 }}</ref>

=== Education ===
Some schools may use armored cars to transport money made by fundraisers or cafeterias. Some universities may have a university bank, and they may require an armored car to handle large amounts of money.

==Vehicles==
[[File:Group 4 Securicor van 105.jpg|thumb|right|G4S security van in the UK]]
[[File:Brinks Geldtransporter 04.jpg|thumb|right|Brinks security van in [[Place:Hamburg|Hamburg]], Germany]]

An armored shell and cab are customized on a basic van or truck chassis. These vehicles are designed to resist attempts at robbery and hijacking. Bullet-resistant glass and reinforced shells and cabs are designed to handle bullets from most handguns and rifles.

===Traffic safety and security===
Some armored cars in certain countries may be cleared to have flashing warning lights or sirens. Most armored cars have a [[Engineering:Bullbar|bullbar]] or strengthened [[Engineering:Bumper (car)|bumper]] to ram through blockades or other road objects if under attack. They normally have CCTV cameras which are watched by the driver, recorded in the van and also recorded at a remotely located control room in case the in-van recordings are stolen by thieves or attackers. With the advent of [[Engineering:Global Positioning System|GPS technology]], armored cars are often equipped with tracking devices that can be monitored by the company, letting them see if the vehicle leaves the planned route. GPS can also be used to prevent the rear doors from opening except at designated locations, and can be combined with remote-control systems to disable the engine in the event of theft or hijacking.

===Access control===
A number of tools are applied to prevent access to the van by non-security staff including removing external door locks.

The vehicle may or may not be carrying armed guards. Such armored cars are usually operated by security firms, and are therefore often referred to as "security vans".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/security-van|title=Security van definition and meaning {{!}} Collins English Dictionary|website=www.collinsdictionary.com|language=en|access-date=April 5, 2018}}</ref>

==Guards==
Most armored cars have two to three occupants:

* A driver, who is normally never allowed to leave the vehicle until it returns to the garage.
* One or two guards who deliver the valuables, often colloquially known as the "coal bag".{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Their main duty is to stay watchful, and to load and unload the valuables as fast as possible.<ref name=":0" />

Armored car guards may wear [[Physics:Bulletproof vest|bulletproof vest]]s<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/securityindustry/worker/docs/armoured-car-guard.pdf |title=Armoured Car Guard |access-date=December 1, 2010 |archive-date=August 6, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806074220/http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/securityindustry/worker/docs/armoured-car-guard.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> and sometimes [[Engineering:Combat helmet|ballistic helmets]].<ref name=":0" /> Guards may be armed, sometimes with handguns on their person and shotguns or rifles in the vehicle. Armed guards are required to undergo firearms training and may require permits for being a guard or to carry an exposed firearm. Training may also include guidance on remaining calm in emergency situations, such as confronting armed criminals; assisting injured colleagues; notifying local law enforcement; following traffic rules; and choosing the safest routes for transportation.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://work.chron.com/duties-armored-truck-guard-23251.html|title=What Are the Duties of an Armored Truck Guard?|access-date=April 5, 2018|language=en}}</ref> 
 
Five member states of the European Union, namely {{wipe|Denmark}}, Greece, Ireland, Sweden, and the Netherlands, as well as the United Kingdom, prohibit weapons during cash-in-transit (CIT) operations.<ref name="coess">{{cite web |url=http://www.coess.org/pdf/CIT_legislations.pdf |title=A comparative overview of the legislations governing the Cash in Transit private industry in the 15 EU members |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105230144/http://www.coess.org/pdf/CIT_legislations.pdf |archive-date=January 5, 2009 |website=CoESS / UNI-Europa joint Report |date=October 2004 |page=14}}</ref> In parts of the United States, such as New York State, armored car guards are permitted to carry weapons after reasonable checks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dos.ny.gov/licensing/armoredguard/armoredguard.html|title=Armored Car Guard|publisher=New York State|access-date=March 2, 2020|archive-date=April 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426195554/https://www.dos.ny.gov/licensing/armoredguard/armoredguard.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dos.ny.gov/licensing/lawbooks/armcar.pdf|publisher=New York State|date=June 2012|title=Armored Car Carriers and Armored Car Guards|access-date=March 2, 2020|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084135/https://www.dos.ny.gov/licensing/lawbooks/ARMCAR.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> In addition, armored car robberies, like bank robberies, are federal crimes in the United States which will always include the FBI.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-doting-boyfriend-who-robbed-armored-cars|title = The Doting Boyfriend Who Robbed Armored Cars}}</ref>

==Alternatives==
[[Engineering:Intelligent banknote neutralisation system|Intelligent banknote neutralisation system]]s are often used as an alternative to armored cars or as a complementary protection for CIT (for example, in semi-armored cars).<ref name="coess" />

==Other uses==
Despite their primary function as a safe means to transport valuable materials from one place to another, armored cars are occasionally used for other purposes. For example, during the 1997 North Hollywood shootout, LAPD officers commandeered an armored car to extract wounded civilians and officers from the scene towards the end of the shootout.<ref>Critical Situation, "North Hollywood Shoot-out".</ref> This led to the introduction of specialized armored [[Engineering:SWAT vehicle|SWAT vehicle]]s for such situations.

==See also==
* [[Engineering:Armored car (military)|Armored car (military)]]
*[[Engineering:Armored car (VIP)|Armored car (VIP)]]
*[[Engineering:Armoured fighting vehicle|Armoured fighting vehicle]]
*[[Engineering:Armoured personnel carrier|Armoured personnel carrier]]
*[[Engineering:Non-military armored vehicle|Non-military armored vehicle]]
*Safeguards Transporter
*[[Engineering:SWAT vehicle|SWAT vehicle]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==

{{DEFAULTSORT:Armored Car (Valuables)}}
[[Category:Trucks]]

{{Sourceattribution|Armored car (valuables)}}