Minimising Theft & Vandalism in Laundromats

Unattended laundromats are convenient for customers. Unfortunately, they are attractive to thieves, vandals and loiterers.

Most laundromat crime isn’t random — it’s opportunistic, predictable, and driven by design choices like exposed cash and poor visibility.

Coin-operated machines, open premises and limited visibility create easy targets. Break-ins, damaged machines and unwanted occupants don’t just cost money; they cause downtime, frustrate customers and put long-term viability at risk.

The good news: theft and vandalism at laundromats are largely preventable. This guide explains practical, proven ways to secure your site – and how cashless payment systems and remote management, like those offered by Bubblepay, dramatically reduce risk while improving day-to-day operations.

In Australia, where many sites are unattended for long hours, a few smart upgrades can make a dramatic difference.

Eliminate the Main Target: Cash on Site

Most laundromat theft is simple and predictable. Criminals go where the cash is.

Coin boxes are pried open, jammed or smashed because they offer an immediate payout. Even reinforced boxes eventually fail. And each incident means repairs, lost revenue and insurance headaches.

Even when theft is insured, downtime, repairs and customer trust damage are rarely covered.

Prevent Laundromat Theft by Removing Cash on Site

One of the most effective ways to prevent laundromat theft is removing cash entirely from the premises.

A cashless laundromat removes the incentive entirely:

• No physical cash stored on site

• No coin boxes to force open

• Every transaction recorded digitally

• Revenue visible remotely, in real time

Bubblepay’s all-in-one kiosk accepts card, mobile wallet and QR payments and continues operating offline if the internet drops. Customers can also start machines directly from their phone, reducing congestion around payment areas.

With nothing to steal, most opportunistic crime simply disappears.

Reduce Vandalism and Accidental Damage

Not all damage is theft. Some is deliberate. Some is careless misuse. Coin mechanisms are usually the first casualty in both cases.

Smart prevention strategies – Do these now!

Effective laundromat security focuses on removing weak points:

• Tamper-proof kiosks instead of exposed coin slots

• Hazard detection to catch problems early

• Well-lit premises to discourage destructive behaviour

• Visible CCTV and signage to reinforce oversight

Traditional security advice focuses on catching vandals after damage occurs. Hazard detection prevents damage before it escalates.

Bubblepay’s MIC (Machine Interface Controller) goes further than basic card readers. It integrates secure machine control with built-in hazard detection, identifying risks such as overheating, leaks or electrical faults before they escalate. Hazard alerts help you catch issues early—before they become floods, electrical faults, or costly downtime.

Fewer points of failure means less wear, less damage and lower maintenance costs over time.

Deter Vagrancy in Unattended Laundromats

Laundromats that feel unmanaged often attract loitering and unwanted overnight use, particularly when they’re warm, poorly lit or loosely controlled.

Practical ways to discourage loitering

• Bright, even lighting and clear sight lines

• Clear signage outlining customer-only use

• Restricted access to restrooms via smart locks or codes

• Clean, orderly spaces that signal active management

Technology plays a key role here. With remote oversight, owners don’t need to be physically present to maintain control.

Bubblepay’s owner app provides live visibility into machine activity and alerts you if something unusual happens such as machines stopping unexpectedly or access issues arising. This allows faster response without constant site visits.

Improve Oversight Without Being On-Site

One of the biggest security risks in laundromats is simply not knowing what’s happening.

Coin-only operations offer no insight until something breaks or money goes missing. By then, the damage is done.

Cashless systems provide:

• Real-time revenue tracking

• Machine status monitoring

• Alerts when issues arise

• Digital records that expose anomalies

Bubblepay’s dashboard gives owners instant clarity, whether you manage one store or multiple locations, turning reactive problem-solving into proactive control.

Why Cashless Technology Is the Long-Term Fix

Cameras, lighting and signage help, but the strongest laundromat security improvements come from removing cash and improving real-time oversight.

A cashless payment system does exactly that:

• Eliminates the main theft target

• Reduces vandalism by removing coin hardware

• Discourages loitering through active monitoring

• Improves customer experience at the same time

Bubblepay combines payment, security and remote management into one platform, built specifically for Australian laundromats and supported locally, 24/7.

Final Thoughts: Secure, Smart, Stress-Free

Minimising theft and vandalism at laundromats isn’t about heavy security alone. It’s about designing risk out of the business.

Removing cash, upgrading to secure hardware and using real-time monitoring transforms an unattended site from an easy target into a controlled, professional operation.

If you’re running a coin-only laundromat or dealing with repeated security issues, upgrading doesn’t need to be complex or expensive.

Book a Free Demo

See how Bubblepay’s cashless kiosk, MIC retrofit and owner app work together to reduce theft, prevent vandalism and simplify management.

Book a free Bubblepay demo and discover how easy it is to secure and modernise your laundromat, all without replacing your machines.