Service stations are high-traffic environments, often open long hours and serving a broad customer base. Unfortunately, this can make them attractive targets for petty theft, fuel drive-offs, and other suspicious activity. Equipping your team with the skills to identify and respond to these behaviours is critical to maintaining a safe, secure site.

What Counts as Suspicious?
Suspicious behaviour doesn’t always look like a crime in progress. It can include loitering near the pumps or store, customers repeatedly entering and exiting without making purchases, or individuals wearing clothing that hides their identity (like hoodies or dark glasses at night). It could also be behaviour that seems intentionally distracting, used as a tactic to divert staff attention.

Train Your Team to Stay Observant
A well-trained team is your first line of defence. Train staff to be confident but calm observers. Encourage them to follow set procedures, such as greeting every customer upon entry (which deters theft) and never confronting a suspect alone. Good observational habits can also support police investigations if an incident does occur.

Record and Report
Staff should know when and how to log suspicious behaviour using your site’s incident reporting system. Keep your CCTV systems maintained and ensure they provide clear footage. If a threat escalates, having a reliable process for alerting management or calling authorities is essential.

A Safer Station Builds Trust
When your site is known as a safe, well-monitored place, both customers and employees feel more at ease. Promoting awareness and security builds a stronger reputation—and a safer business.

For the latest retailer news and information, check out the ServoPro website or to speak to us about how we can help your business contact us.