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Turnstar ramps up countermeasures

On Sunday 24 October 2021, in a well-planned and executed hit that included the robbery of a jewellery store, criminals exited a Pretoria shopping centre in two vehicles. Assisted by accomplices waiting outside the shopping centre, steel ramps were placed over the existing raised spike barrier. The ramps enabled the criminals to drive over the raised spikes without damaging their vehicles and to get away.

“Turnstar was quick to react to the situation and our engineers worked rapidly and tirelessly on a solution to prevent and deter this type of circumvention. We believe that we have found the solution. Turnstar has developed and patented an early warning and deterrent system which will alert security, and anyone nearby, of any attempt to place ramps over the raised spikes,” says Turnstar CEO, Craig Sacks.

Using the existing loops (and infrared beams), Turnstar’s Velocity Raptor spike barrier is able to detect the presence of the ramps and provide an output to the security control room. Nearby security staff and members of the public will be alerted by a strobe light and a siren, both mounted on or near the vehicle barrier. In addition, other physical security measures can be added to the system, including a rising bollard, road blocker or sliding gate, thereby providing a serious deterrent to any would-be criminal.

See a video of the solution in action at

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