Gas station and convenience store security
For gas station and convenience store owners, operators and franchisees in Alberta and BC, open late or around the clock.
Updated
The quick answer
A gas station or convenience store needs to protect the people working late as much as the stock. That means cameras on the pumps, the forecourt, the tills and the doors, silent panic buttons at the counter, talk-down speakers outside so our monitoring partner can warn people off, and remote video monitoring overnight. Add temperature alarms on the coolers, access control on the washrooms and back rooms, and an intrusion alarm a monitoring centre watches when you close.
Where the risk is
What operators tell us about
- One person on shift late at night
- Drive-offs without paying at the pump
- Thefts of cigarettes, lottery tickets and high-value stock
- Loitering around the doors and washrooms
- Coolers that fail overnight and spoil stock
What helps
- Panic buttons the worker can reach from the till
- Cameras that read plates at the pumps
- Talk-down speakers that warn people before trouble starts
- Washrooms that open only with a code or a buzz from the counter
- Alerts when a cooler gets too warm
Systems that fit a gas station
| System | What it does |
|---|---|
| Security cameras | Pumps, forecourt, entrance, tills, back room and the lot, with clear faces at the door. |
| Plate recognition | Cameras that read plates at the pumps and the lot entrance, so a drive-off can be searched by plate and time. |
| Panic buttons | Silent buttons at the till and in the back that alert the monitoring centre or an on-call manager. |
| Remote video monitoring | Our monitoring partner watches the forecourt and doors overnight and speaks through outdoor talk-down speakers. |
| Cooler and freezer alarms | Sensors in walk-in coolers and freezers that alert staff before stock spoils. |
| Washroom access | Washroom doors that open with a code, a fob or a buzz from the counter, with vape sensors if you want them. |
| Intrusion alarm | For stores that close overnight, monitored by a monitoring centre, with battery backup and a cellular connection. |
Late-night worker safety
Alberta and BC both have workplace safety rules for people who work alone or late at night in retail. A security system can support your safety plan with panic buttons, cameras, good lighting on camera and a way to check on a worker, but it doesn’t replace the plan itself.
Not legal advice. Check your provincial OHS rules on alberta.ca or worksafebc.com for what applies to your store.
How we work around your opening hours
Many stations never close, so we work in stages and keep the store protected the whole time. Forecourt cameras and cabling go in during quieter hours, and we change over one system at a time so cameras, the alarm and the panic buttons are never all down together.
We work on stations and stores in towns and along highways across Alberta and BC from our Edmonton head office and our offices in Calgary, Red Deer and Kelowna, and use cellular and solar-powered cameras at rural sites where power or internet is limited. See remote site security.
Your checklist
Before the site walk
- A site plan with pumps, doors, tills, coolers and washrooms
- Your staffing overnight and who should get panic alerts
- Where drive-offs and thefts usually happen
- Your current alarm and camera equipment, if any
At handover
- Admin access to every system, in your name
- Full documentation and camera views
- Staff trained on panic buttons and clip export
- Camera health alerts set up, if you want them
Worried about staff on the night shift?
We’ll walk the station with you and plan cameras, panic buttons and monitoring around your shifts.
Related: cooler and freezer alarmswashroom access and vape detectionpanic buttonsretail plazas
Stuck with a system nobody will fix?
We repair and take over cameras, access control, intercoms and alarms installed by other companies, when your current provider has fallen short.
Help: Export Avigilon video
Gas station and convenience store security questions
What security does a gas station need?
Cameras on the pumps, forecourt, tills and doors, panic buttons at the counter, talk-down speakers with remote video monitoring overnight, and cooler alarms and washroom access inside.
Can cameras help with drive-offs?
Yes. Plate recognition at the pumps and lot entrance gives you a searchable record of each vehicle by plate and time to share with police.
How do panic buttons protect a worker on their own?
The worker presses a silent button at the till and an alert goes to the monitoring centre or an on-call manager, without anyone in the store knowing.
What is a talk-down speaker?
An outdoor speaker our monitoring partner uses to speak to people on site, warning them that they’re on camera before trouble starts.
Can washrooms open only for customers?
Yes. Washroom doors can open with a code on the receipt, a fob or a buzz from the counter, with vape sensors inside if you want them.
Can you alert us when a cooler fails overnight?
Yes. Temperature sensors in coolers and freezers alert staff phones, and the monitoring centre if your alarm is monitored.
What are the late-night retail rules in Alberta and BC?
Both provinces have workplace safety rules for people working alone or late at night. Check your provincial OHS rules on alberta.ca or worksafebc.com. Not legal advice.
Can you install at a station that never closes?
Yes. We work in stages, changing one system at a time, so the store is never left without cameras, an alarm and panic buttons.
Do you secure rural and highway stations?
Yes. Cellular and solar-powered cameras cover sites with limited power or internet, across Alberta and BC.
More answers: Security camera questionsGlossary: NVRvideo analytics
Get a gas station security quote
Tell us about the site: pumps, store size, hours and what you have now. We’ll follow up to book a site walk.
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