SFM strengthens security at its Son Rutlan facilities through surveillance drones
The new devices will carry out daily and continuous flights, mainly during night-time hours
Serveis Ferroviaris de Mallorca (SFM) has introduced a new system to strengthen the protection of its Son Rutlan facilities through surveillance drones. This is one of the improvements included in the proposal submitted by the security company responsible for the current contract during the latest tendering process for the service.
The new system began operating in April and its main objective is to enhance the security of the facilities and establish an additional security barrier against potential acts of vandalism involving graffiti, as explained by SFM’s Managing Director, José Ramón Orta, during the presentation of the measure.
In addition to the security personnel deployed at the railway company’s facilities in Son Rutlan, a new security officer holding an STS drone pilot licence has joined the team and will be responsible for carrying out reconnaissance flights around the site.
The drones in operation are equipped with 12 cameras and feature a thermal imaging system, as well as a powerful loudspeaker system to warn or deter potential intruders. These are the same types of devices used by police forces in search operations for missing persons.
Flights will be carried out every day, mainly at night and at regular intervals, allowing between 20 and 25 surveillance rounds to be completed during a single night. The entire perimeter of the facilities will be monitored through pre-established flight routes covering all angles.
Vandal graffiti at SFM
During 2025, SFM spent more than €120,000 repairing damage caused by vandal graffiti. A total of €80,347 was allocated to repairing damage to its rolling stock, in addition to approximately €40,000 to repair damage to its facilities.
SFM filed criminal complaints for each incident of vandal graffiti affecting its trains, reaching a total of 27 complaints throughout the year. A total of 37 train carriages were affected, with a total surface area of 398 square metres requiring repair.
In the first four months of 2026, 10 complaints had already been filed, resulting in economic losses exceeding €46,000. This included €32,579 in damage to rolling stock, affecting 17 train carriages and 173 square metres of surface area, plus a further €14,000 required to repair damage to facilities.
Vandal graffiti also causes significant deterioration to the exterior of trains, damaging both the paintwork and external vinyl wrapping of the units and forcing materials to be replaced earlier than expected. Furthermore, the continuous cleaning of graffiti reduces the lifespan of exterior coatings.
In this regard, SFM renewed the external vinyl wrapping of its 8100 series trains and 7100 series metro units last year, with an investment of €419,700 (excluding VAT), a cost brought forward due to the impact of these acts of vandalism.
Measures implemented
In recent years, SFM has increased the measures taken to combat this problem. Security staff have been reinforced across all facilities with a higher number of personnel, including a canine unit for night-time surveillance at the Son Rutlan facilities.
Perimeter fencing has also been improved and expanded across all sites, while security technology and video recording systems have been upgraded with the installation of numerous additional surveillance cameras.
In 2024, SFM took a further step by deciding to act as a private prosecutor in all legal proceedings arising from its complaints and by requesting prison sentences in each case.
In addition, a forensic handwriting expert was contracted to analyse and register vandal graffiti, both old and recent. Through forensic identification of graffiti signatures, authorship can be conclusively attributed, facilitating police investigations. The expert reports are incorporated directly into judicial proceedings as evidence, helping to secure convictions and supporting ongoing investigations across the country.
The introduction of drone surveillance strengthens security at the Son Rutlan facilities and represents a significant step forward in the fight against vandal graffiti.