Rising fuel prices can cause headaches for retailers, not least because they make forecourts a more attractive target for crime.

Crime on the Forecourt has long been a huge headache for the petrol retailing fraternity, as was confirmed by a recent survey which showed that safety and security at work concerned nearly half of all forecourt staff questioned.

Latest figures released by the British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS), show that in 2004 forecourts lost £16.3m through drive-offs and a further £5.1m thanks to drivers who claimed they had ‘no means of payment’ for their fuel. Add in robbery, burglary and other thefts and the total losses rise to at least £26m. However, progress is being made. New solutions are constantly being developed and the industry continues to fight back to ensure the crooks don’t win.

Security has always been a big issue for forecourts and retailers today must contend with an ever-widening range of crimes – from drive-offs and theft to credit-card fraud and, even, staff fraud.

Drive-offs cost the petrol retailing sector nearly £12 million pounds a year. However the personal cost in terms of frustration at the lack of being able to do anything about a crime that can wreak havoc on your business is not so easy to quantify.

the tragic murder of Cornish operators, Graham and Carol Fisher, last November provided a stark reminder of how vulnerable to crime the forecourt sector can be. The high value of the petrol, along with their often isolated locations, can leave forecourts open to violent crimes and drive-offs. And with the growth of forecourt c-stores, operators will increasingly encounter retail crime.