subject: Theft Resistance Key For Commercial Wheelchair Rentals [print this page] Commercial wheelchair rentals are an excellent value-add for public venues such as airports or shopping malls. The convenience of wheelchair rentals provided to patrons, as well as the potential for an added revenue stream, cannot be denied. Unfortunately, traditional wheelchairs, with their folding, x-brace design, are highly prone to theft. Wheelchairs, particularly manual, self-propelled wheelchairs sold by most manufacturers of commercial wheelchairs, can be easily folded and put into the trunk of an automobile.
Additionally, standard commercial wheelchairs look just like wheelchairs sold legitimately for home use. Since they are not designed specifically for institutional use, they are easy to resell. Portable, easily sold, valuable items provide a tempting target to opportunistic thieves. Not only does wheelchair theft cost the institution precious resources, it inconveniences patrons who need them. Providing theft-resistant wheelchair rental helps to ensure that everyone who wants or needs a wheelchair for transportation can have access to one.
A key feature for theft resistance is a non-folding design. Wheelchair theft is a crime of opportunity. Providing commercial wheelchairs which cannot be folded, and therefore cannot be easily placed in a car trunk and removed from the premises, reduces the rate of loss.
To further thwart attempts at theft, commercial wheelchair units should have a unique, identifiable serial or registration number. Potential thieves can be deterred by providing a unit which can be easily traced to its rightful owner.
Visual distinction is also highly useful. By providing non-folding rental wheelchairs, airports and shopping malls are using units which do not look like standard wheelchairs. The fact of this difference is also a strong deterrent to illicit resale.
Rental wheelchair theft can be a major cost when providing rental wheelchairs. While theft presents a major inconvenience to patrons, who may not be able to find a wheelchair when they need one, abandoned wheelchairs can also be a cause of rental wheelchair shortage. As with shopping or luggage carts, patrons need an incentive to return the rental chair when they are done using it.
Institutions that provide commercial wheelchair rental should take care to select a model for their rental program which is designed with both theft resistance and abandonment in mind. Revenue will be reduced if the institution is required to hire staff to round up stray wheelchairs. As with airport luggage cart rentals, commercial wheelchair rentals should be implemented using a self-service stand or kiosk. Patrons should be able to rent a wheelchair for use in the facility for a nominal fee. Kiosks or stands should also provide a small deposit return. Small change given at the time of the rental return can be a strong incentive, making it so that the rental wheelchairs practically return themselves. Commercial wheelchair models which stack or nest, like shopping or airport luggage carts, are perfect for such a rental program.
When selecting a commercial wheelchair model for rental programs, keep theft resistance in mind. Select a model which does not fold, cannot be used as a self-propelled chair, which is durable and which can be easily accessorized for coin-op self-service rental.
