We had mixed feelings when we heard about the clerk at a Nashua Shell station who got fired for protecting his life in the face of a robbery attempt by pulling his gun on the knife-wielding criminal. On one hand, we’re glad that Shannon Cothran protected himself and the situation was resolved safely for him. On the other hand, we understand that he broke a company policy and in doing so was relieved of his position. At Total Security Solutions, we want to make sure clerks are never put in a situation where they need to make that type of decision in the face of an armed robbery. It’s very possible that most clerks aren’t trained and prepared as much as Cothran was to handle the situation. Due to this lack of training, as a business owner, it’s important to take the appropriate precautions to keep employees safe during their shift.
Gas Stations and Convenience Stores that are open 24 Hours a day have particular security considerations that most other businesses where money is exchanged don’t need to worry about. Specifically, during the late evening hours when traffic begins to slow, the threat for violent crime increases, which means you need a flexible barrier system that can adjust with the ebb and flow of store traffic. In the instance of the Nashua gas station, the clerk knew it was only a matter of time before something would happen at his store because of the recent armed robberies in the area. If he worked behind a bullet resistant barrier, the stress and anxiety that had built up expecting an attack would be gone – and he would probably still have a job.
The ultimate goal for any bullet resistant barrier system is to act as a deterrent so the criminal doesn’t even make the attempt at violent crime. If the bulletproof glass used for the barrier is shot, it will still keep the clerk safe and allow them to take cover and call the police. Concern for weapon discharge is low for businesses that have a bullet resistant barrier. In fact, 99% of the barriers we sell have only been replaced due to building renovations and owner preference. Because gas stations and convenience stores have different security considerations, we’ve created a checklist that will help plan an appropriate barrier to keep your employees safe. If you have any questions about how a bullet resistant barrier can help with the overall security of your building, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Next Steps
- Download our Convenience Stores and Gas Stations Security Checklist
- Understand more about bulletproof glass and bullet resistant barriers by downloading our infographic
- Subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated with the latest security information
