How often do gas stations get robbed?
Asked by: Avery Watsica DDS | Last update: May 21, 2026Score: 4.2/5 (39 votes)
Gas stations are frequent targets for robberies, ranking high among commercial locations, with tens of thousands of incidents annually in the U.S., often combining with convenience stores to represent a significant portion of violent crimes and workplace homicides in the retail sector, though frequency varies greatly by location and security measures. While exact daily numbers fluctuate, they are a high-risk industry, especially for cashiers, with significant risks of armed robbery and violence, making security and cash management crucial.
What kind of stores get robbed the most?
Stores most at risk of shoplifting are those that sell small, easy-to-hide, and valuable items, such as electronics, jewellery, and clothing. Self-service shops and stores in busy areas also face a higher chance of retail theft.
What's the most common place to get robbed?
About a third of robberies occur on the street or highway. Approximately 20 percent take place at commercial establishments like gas stations and convenience stores. Around 17 percent occur inside residences. By comparison, the majority of burglaries (over 60 percent) take place at residences.
How common are convenience store robberies?
5 Dangerous Convenience Store Robberies of 2023
Convenience stores account for 3% of all violent crimes reported, while gas stations account for 2% Convenience stores are the 4th most likely location for violent crime. Collectively, victims of property crimes suffered over $17.5 billion in 2020.
How many gas station robberies go unsolved?
Wondering how many robberies go unsolved? About 70% of convenience store robberies have no resolution. Even in these areas, certain security measures, such as cameras, can deter crime or give police the evidence necessary to solve a robbery case.
Caught in the Act: Gas station robbery
Which state is #1 in retail theft?
Washington state consistently ranks #1 in the U.S. for retail theft, facing significant losses from organized retail crime (ORC) and experiencing high rates of theft incidents relative to its business size, impacting both large retailers and small businesses, with lawmakers seeking reforms to address the issue.
How often does a gas station get robbed?
There were 22,000 gas station and convenience store robberies in 2021, making them the third most common location for a robbery in the United States, according to the FBI. About 5% of all violent crime in the United States occurs in a gas station or convenience store—around 32,000 acts of violence each year.
What is the #1 deterrent for burglars?
1. Home Security Cameras. Our best deterrent for burglars is the presence of an outdoor security camera. Having cameras mounted around your exterior home is a great way to prevent burglars from entering your home!
What is the #1 crime state in America?
Alaska often ranks #1 for violent crime rates per capita, followed closely by New Mexico, while some analyses also point to Louisiana for high murder rates or overall danger, though rankings vary slightly depending on whether violent crime, property crime, or general safety metrics are used, with data from 2024 and 2025 consistently showing Alaska and New Mexico leading in violent offenses.
Is it safe to go to the gas station at night?
If possible, get gas during the day.
If you can't, try finding a well-lit gas station. In general, a lot of convenience store incidents are more likely to occur at night because there aren't as many people out and about.
Where do robbers look first?
The bedroom is often searched first. Living rooms and studies are also often ransacked first. Most thieves are familiar with the usual hiding places for money: In DVD cases.
What is the #1 crime city in the US?
Memphis, Tennessee, is frequently cited as the U.S. city with the highest overall violent crime rate in recent 2024-2025 data, followed by cities like Detroit, St. Louis, and Baltimore, though rankings can shift slightly based on whether property crime or specific violent offenses like homicide are prioritized, with Oakland often leading property crime, notes.
Who is most likely to be mugged?
Racial Disparities in Victimization Widened: Black Americans were more likely to be victims of violent crime than other racial groups in 2023. For instance, Black Americans were more than twice as likely to be robbed as White Americans.
What is the 10 80 10 theft rule?
The 10-80-10 rule (or 10-10-80) in theft prevention suggests that 10% of employees will never steal, 10% will steal given any chance, and the crucial 80% are susceptible to theft if the opportunity and rationalization (pressure, perceived justification) are present, emphasizing that strong controls focus on influencing the middle 80% to deter them by reducing perceived risk.
What is the number one shoplifted item?
There isn't one single "most shoplifted" item, but top contenders consistently include razor blades, cosmetics/perfumes, baby formula, meat/cheese, and alcohol, often due to high resale value, small size, and high demand; electronics like smartphones and high-end fashion items are also frequently targeted. Items that are small, expensive, and easy to conceal or resell on the black market are prime targets.
Do stores actually keep track of shoplifters?
Do stores actually keep track of shoplifters? Yes, especially larger retailers. Many stores log footage of shoplifting incidents and store it separately for months or even years. They may also work with law enforcement or use facial recognition to identify repeat offenders.
Which state in the USA is safest?
Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire consistently rank as the safest states in the U.S., according to recent studies by WalletHub and others, often due to low violent crime rates, strong financial stability, and good road safety, with Maine and Utah also frequently appearing in the top five. These rankings consider multiple factors, including personal safety (crime), financial security (unemployment, poverty), road safety (fatalities), workplace safety, and emergency preparedness.
In what state do most murders occur?
Mississippi consistently ranks as the state with the highest murder rate in the U.S., followed closely by Louisiana, with Alabama, New Mexico, and Tennessee also frequently appearing in the top five for recent years, according to analyses of CDC and other crime data. These states often share characteristics like deep poverty and violence concentrated in specific urban areas, with high rates driven by cities like New Orleans, Birmingham, and Memphis.
Which state is no. 1 in crime?
Alaska often ranks #1 for violent crime rates per capita, followed closely by New Mexico, while some analyses also point to Louisiana for high murder rates or overall danger, though rankings vary slightly depending on whether violent crime, property crime, or general safety metrics are used, with data from 2024 and 2025 consistently showing Alaska and New Mexico leading in violent offenses.
Where do burglars never look?
1) Library or a Study Room. Home library or office room with bookshelves. This is an excellent spot to stash your valuables, especially if you have lots of books. It becomes a tedious task for thieves to search between the books, especially when they only have a short amount of time to pull off the theft.
What time of day do burglars break in?
Most burglaries happen during the daytime, especially on weekdays, with peak times between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., when people are usually at work or school, making homes seem empty and providing opportunities for thieves to go unnoticed. Burglars prefer these hours for easy access and to avoid homeowners, though break-ins can occur at other times, particularly during summer months.
Does leaving a light on at night deter burglars?
Take a few simple measures to reduce the likelihood of being burgled. Leave a light on: Leave a light on inside the house (choose well-used rooms such as the lounge or bedroom – not a hallway or other largely unused area). The intention is to create the impression that someone is in – a significant deterrent.
Who is most likely to be a shoplifter?
The odds of shoplifting were significantly higher in men than in women. Native Americans had higher odds than whites, although blacks, Hispanics, and Asian Americans had lower odds of shoplifting than non-Hispanic whites.
Is it safe to go to a gas station at night?
Police say while driving into a gas station or store parking lots be vigilant see if there's anyone just hanging around looking for an opportunity. If the business is closed and it's at night authorities say if you feel uncomfortable go somewhere else.