Top 50 Indie Valli Forecourts believes that it has been preventing £630,000 a year in drive-offs at its 16 forecourts since installing Vars automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology.
The Leeds-based family business was having a particular problem with people driving off without attempting to pay, with an average of 50 incidents a week across its estate.
That was before it installed the Vars equipment in 2019, as one of the supplier’s first customers to apply the system which uses a national blacklist of vehicles known to be driven by people who have stolen fuel in the past.
Staff are alerted to problem vehicles and can refuse to release fuel at the pump, and in so doing prevent a theft. When drive-offs or no means of payment still happen Vars pursues offenders for the full cost of the fuel, with an 83% recovery rate for the business, representing £234,000 over the five years since installation.
Valli Forecourts also uses the equipment to manage and monetise on-site parking at two sites which have limited space. The Vars ANPR system helps to control the amount of time that drivers can remain parked, generating an extra £4,550 annual revenue for the business.
The operator warns that it allows 90 minutes parking before drivers will be charged, although they are given an extra 10-minute grace period as required by the British Parking Association.
The other major success of having the equipment is that workers feel safer, says Adam Valli, senior purchasing manager at Valli Forecourts.
“The Vars system has undoubtedly been a success at Valli Forecourts,” he asserts.
“The main benefit has been removing anxiety for our staff with respect to uncomfortable situations like no means of payment and drive-offs. With the Vars alert in place, there is now a clear procedure which allows the sales assistant to get on with what matters most, providing excellent service to our customers.”
Vars Technology director John Garnett likens not having ANPR technology to being the only house in the street without a burglar alarm. “You immediately become a soft target with everyone else around you protecting themselves,” he says.
Valli Forecourts also has Vars facial recognition at four of its sites to prevent theft taking place inside its convenience stores.
