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Petrol forecourt crime, excluding credit card fraud, costs the oil industry over £20 million per year, according to the British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS). This, allied to an increasing number of specific incidents - including non-payment drive-offs - has forced the management of a nationwide network of petrol outlets to search for a cost-effective security solution.

Using their previously successful applications in retail, convenience store and fast food scenarios, Visual Verification have applied their remote monitoring solutions to the problem.

Utilising the existing camera system and through transmission systems with inbuilt recording equipment, the remote monitoring specialists can provide a number of security solutions for the company . So let’s take an exaggerated look at one night’s proceedings Big Brother style!

It’s 6:33pm. … A group of youths have congregated on the garage forecourt and begin to cause trouble, threatening customers. The petrol attendant for the evening, Mark Casey, presses the panic alarm (situated under his counter) which is immediately relayed to the monitoring station. Through use of the two-way audio capability the operator can hear the group and issues an audio warning within seconds. The group soon disperses and vacates the area.

It’s 8:49pm … Nearing the end of his shift Mark serves a customer who is causing him concern and becoming increasingly aggressive. Having filled his car, the man is trying to pay for his petrol with a credit card which, after four attempts, will not be accepted. After being informed that his card will not be accepted, the customer becomes abusive towards Mark and threatens violence. Mark presses the panic alarm. The control of the situation is passed to remote staff who can hear the conversation escalating. An audio warning is given and the gentleman, having initially been shocked, eventually pays with cash after being threatened with police intervention by the operator.

It’s 12.15am … A lone female is now in charge of the station. She soon receives harassment from a group of teenagers evidently fresh from a night on the town. Fortunately for the assistant, the shop is now closed and all transactions are made through the protective window counter. Despite this, when the group becomes aggressive and begins to spit at the window (amongst other things) the assistant engages with the monitoring station and, after an immediate and professional audio warning, the situation is diffused and the group leaves.

It’s now 2.31am … and all appears quiet at the petrol station. A car arrives at pump 3 and fills up in the normal manner. However, having done so, the driver gets straight back in his car and screeches away, not even considering payment. The assistant immediately informs the monitoring station of the incident. The operator, having reviewed the footage remotely from the onsite DVR, provides the police with the model/colour/registration of the vehicle and description of the driver. Thus, within minutes the police are on the hunt.

It’s 3:05am … The police appear on site to collect the evidence. Having apprehended the culprit only a few miles away on the motorway, the officers now require the footage. Visual Verification’s Operations Manager has already supplied the required footage in evidential quality format, as an email direct from the monitoring station. The police are supplied with the evidence to charge the offender back at the station.

It’s 4.10am … and the monitoring station is alerted to a non-sale through till no.2. Through the till surveillance facility, an email is automatically sent to the Area Manager with the video footage of the incident for his notification on the same morning. On this occasion it appears that nothing untoward has occurred.

Now it’s 9am … and as the night shift draws to a close, a scheduled cash in transit collection is made for the overnight takings. When the armoured van arrives, the operator alerts the monitoring station and the whole collection is monitored throughout, until the vehicle is safely off the premises.

This might be an exaggerated eventful day, but all these incidents have occurred and, according to retail management, are on the increase. This is partly due to the rapid rise in petrol prices over the past few months. In each case the quick response and quality of service from the monitoring station prevents further escalation of incidents, and aids both the isolated staff and the police in the prevention of crime. Remote Monitoring now provides a vast array of security solutions that are fully operational. The service is fast becoming a vital tool in the armoury of today’s management.