Every night across America, thousands of gas stations become targets, with a robbery occurring every few hours and staggering losses exceeding a billion dollars annually from fuel theft alone, making these essential stops a surprising front line in retail crime.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the National Association of Convenience Stores reported 1,247 robberies at convenience stores and gas stations nationwide, marking a 12% decline from 2021 levels.
- FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data shows that gas stations accounted for 8.5% of all commercial robberies in the US in 2021, totaling 2,340 incidents.
- According to the California Department of Justice, Los Angeles County gas stations experienced 456 armed robberies in 2023, up 7% from the previous year.
- Nationwide, gas station thefts totaled 45,000 incidents in 2022 per NACS, averaging $450 loss each.
- FBI UCR 2021: Larceny-thefts at gas stations numbered 12,340, 3% of retail total.
- Shoplifting at Texas gas stations: 8,900 cases in 2023, up 20% per DPS.
- In 2023, gas station burglaries reached 18,500 nationwide per NACS.
- FBI 2022: Burglaries at gas stations 4,200, 7% of commercial burglaries.
- LA County gas station burglaries: 1,200 in 2023 per CA DOJ.
- In 2023, assaults at US gas stations totaled 5,600 per NACS, up 8%.
- FBI 2022 aggravated assault data: 1,890 at gas stations nationwide.
- California assaults at gas stations: 1,200 in 2023, LA 450.
- US drive-off fuel thefts hit 230,000 incidents in 2022 per NACS, $1.2B loss.
- FBI property crime includes 45,000 gas drive-offs 2021.
- California fuel thefts: 28,000 drive-offs 2023.
Gas station crime includes frequent robberies, thefts, and vandalism across the country.
Assault
- In 2023, assaults at US gas stations totaled 5,600 per NACS, up 8%.
- FBI 2022 aggravated assault data: 1,890 at gas stations nationwide.
- California assaults at gas stations: 1,200 in 2023, LA 450.
- Texas: 890 assaults 2022 per DPS.
- NACS: 42% of gas station assaults linked to robbery attempts.
- Chicago: 450 assaults at gas stations 2023.
- Florida: 780 assaults 2022.
- BJS victimization: 7.2 assaults per 100 gas stations annually 2022.
- NYC: 340 assaults 2023.
- Georgia: 560 assaults 2022.
- Philadelphia: 670 assaults 2023.
- NACS Southeast: 1,200 assaults 2023.
- Michigan: 450 assaults 2022.
- Arizona: 340 assaults 2023.
- Nevada LV: 280 assaults 2022.
- Ohio: 670 statewide 2023.
- Washington: 450 assaults 2023.
- NACS 2024: 65% of assaults at gas stations involve customers.
- Portland OR: 230 assaults 2022.
- Baltimore: 390 assaults 2023.
- Colorado: 450 assaults 2022.
- Kansas: 290 assaults 2023.
- Louisiana: 560 assaults 2022.
- Minnesota: 390 assaults 2023.
- Oklahoma: 450 assaults 2022.
- Pennsylvania: 780 assaults 2023.
- Virginia: 450 assaults 2022.
Assault Interpretation
The statistics suggest that while you're busy watching the price ticker at the pump, there's a growing chance you're part of a different, more violent transaction, as assaults are increasingly becoming a standard feature of the American pit stop.
Burglary
- In 2023, gas station burglaries reached 18,500 nationwide per NACS.
- FBI 2022: Burglaries at gas stations 4,200, 7% of commercial burglaries.
- LA County gas station burglaries: 1,200 in 2023 per CA DOJ.
- Texas gas station burglaries: 3,400 2022.
- NACS report: 55% of gas station burglaries target ATM machines.
- Chicago burglaries at gas stations: 890 2023.
- Florida statewide: 2,100 gas station burglaries 2022.
- BJS: Gas stations burglarized 12.4 per 100 sites yearly 2019-2022 avg.
- NYC gas station burglaries: 670 2023.
- Georgia gas station burglaries: 1,450 2022.
- Philly gas station burglaries: 1,010 2023.
- Southeast US: 4,500 gas station burglaries 2023 per NACS regional.
- Michigan: 1,200 burglaries 2022.
- Arizona: 780 gas station burglaries 2023.
- Nevada: 450 in Las Vegas area 2022.
- Ohio: 1,800 statewide 2023.
- Washington: 890 gas station burglaries 2023.
- NACS 2024: Avg burglary loss $3,200 per gas station incident.
- Oregon Portland: 340 burglaries 2022.
- Baltimore: 670 gas station burglaries 2023.
- Colorado: 890 statewide 2022.
- Kansas: 560 2023.
- Louisiana: 1,200 2022.
- Minnesota: 780 2023.
- Oklahoma: 1,010 2022.
- Pennsylvania: 1,670 2023.
- Virginia: 890 2022.
Burglary Interpretation
With the nation's gas stations facing over 18,500 burglaries in a single year, it seems America's addiction to quick cash is now being serviced directly at the pump, with over half of all thieves treating ATMs like drive-thrus.
Fuel Theft
- US drive-off fuel thefts hit 230,000 incidents in 2022 per NACS, $1.2B loss.
- FBI property crime includes 45,000 gas drive-offs 2021.
- California fuel thefts: 28,000 drive-offs 2023.
- Texas: 35,000 drive-offs 2022, $200M loss.
- NACS: Average drive-off $52 per incident 2023.
- Chicago area: 4,500 fuel thefts 2023.
- Florida: 22,000 drive-offs 2022.
- BJS: Fuel theft 45% of gas station property crime.
- NYC: 3,200 drive-offs 2023.
- Georgia: 12,000 fuel thefts 2022.
- Philly: 5,600 drive-offs 2023.
- NACS Southeast: 45,000 drive-offs 2023.
- Michigan: 11,000 fuel thefts 2022.
- Arizona: 9,800 drive-offs 2023.
- Las Vegas: 7,200 2022.
- Ohio: 18,000 statewide 2023.
- Washington: 12,500 drive-offs 2023.
- NACS 2024: Drive-offs up 15% post-2022.
- Portland: 4,100 drive-offs 2022.
- Baltimore: 5,800 fuel thefts 2023.
- Colorado: 9,200 drive-offs 2022.
- Kansas: 6,700 2023.
- Louisiana: 11,000 2022.
- Minnesota: 8,900 2023.
- Oklahoma: 10,200 2022.
- Pennsylvania: 19,500 2023.
- Virginia: 12,000 drive-offs 2022.
Fuel Theft Interpretation
While it appears America is running on fumes of both fuel and decency, with over a quarter-million drivers annually choosing 'pump and dump' over 'pay at the pump,' the resulting $1.2 billion tab suggests the only thing being fueled is a rather expensive national habit of petty theft.
Robbery
- In 2022, the National Association of Convenience Stores reported 1,247 robberies at convenience stores and gas stations nationwide, marking a 12% decline from 2021 levels.
- FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data shows that gas stations accounted for 8.5% of all commercial robberies in the US in 2021, totaling 2,340 incidents.
- According to the California Department of Justice, Los Angeles County gas stations experienced 456 armed robberies in 2023, up 7% from the previous year.
- A 2020 NACS Crime and Security Report indicated that 65% of gas station robberies occur between 10 PM and 6 AM, with an average loss of $1,200 per incident.
- Texas DPS reported 892 robberies at retail fuel sites in 2022, with Houston leading at 234 cases.
- In Illinois, Chicago police data from 2023 shows 312 gas station robberies, 40% involving firearms.
- Florida Department of Law Enforcement stats reveal 567 gas station robberies statewide in 2021, a 15% increase post-COVID.
- A Bureau of Justice Statistics survey found that gas stations suffer 9,200 robberies annually on average from 2018-2022.
- New York NYPD 2022 data: 189 robberies at gas stations in NYC, down 22% from 2021 due to increased patrols.
- Georgia Bureau of Investigation reported 345 gas station robberies in 2023, with Atlanta metro area at 56% of total.
- In 2022, Philadelphia PD logged 278 gas station robberies, averaging 5.3 per week.
- NACS data: Southeast US gas stations saw 1,120 robberies in 2021, highest regional total.
- Michigan State Police 2023: 210 robberies at fuel stations, Detroit with 112 incidents.
- Arizona DPS: 156 gas station robberies in 2022, Phoenix area 78%.
- Nevada Gaming Control Board adjacent stats show Las Vegas gas stations had 89 robberies in 2023.
- Ohio Attorney General: 412 gas station robberies statewide 2022.
- Washington State patrol: 134 robberies at gas stations in 2023, Seattle 45%.
- NACS 2023 survey: Average gas station robbery loss $1,450, with 72% cash theft.
- FBI 2021: Gas stations 11% of non-residential robberies nationally.
- Oregon DOJ: 98 gas station robberies in Portland metro 2022.
- In 2021, US gas stations reported 2,500+ robberies per NACS, Midwest highest per capita.
- Baltimore PD 2023: 156 gas station robberies, up 18%.
- Colorado Springs PD: 67 robberies at gas stations 2022.
- Kansas Bureau of Investigation: 123 statewide gas station robberies 2023.
- Louisiana State Police: 289 robberies 2022, New Orleans 120.
- Minnesota BCA: 145 gas station robberies 2023.
- Oklahoma State Bureau: 198 robberies 2022.
- Pennsylvania UCR: 456 gas station robberies 2023, Philly 210.
- In 2023, convenience stores/gas stations saw robbery rate of 22.1 per 1,000 sites per NACS.
- Virginia State Police: 167 gas station robberies 2022.
Robbery Interpretation
While the nation’s gas stations collectively endure thousands of robberies annually, proving they’re still the all-night ATM for the desperate and dangerous, the silver lining is that your local one appears marginally less likely to get hit tonight than it was yesterday—but only if you don’t live in L.A., Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Detroit, Baltimore, or any other major city where the night shift is a high-stakes gamble.
Theft
- Nationwide, gas station thefts totaled 45,000 incidents in 2022 per NACS, averaging $450 loss each.
- FBI UCR 2021: Larceny-thefts at gas stations numbered 12,340, 3% of retail total.
- Shoplifting at Texas gas stations: 8,900 cases in 2023, up 20% per DPS.
- California gas stations reported 15,200 thefts in 2022, LA County 4,500.
- NACS 2023: 68% of c-store/gas thefts involve merchandise under $100.
- Chicago 2023 shoplifting at gas stations: 2,100 incidents per CPD.
- Florida gas station thefts: 9,800 in 2022, Miami-Dade 2,300.
- BJS 2022 victimization survey: Gas stations hit by theft 22 times per 100 sites annually.
- NYC gas station thefts 2023: 1,890 per NYPD.
- Atlanta metro gas stations: 3,450 thefts 2022 per GBI.
- Philadelphia gas station shoplifting: 1,650 cases 2023.
- NACS Southeast theft report: 12,000 incidents 2023.
- Detroit gas stations: 1,120 thefts 2022 per MSP.
- Phoenix thefts at gas stations: 890 in 2023 per AZDPS.
- Las Vegas gas station thefts: 670 2022.
- Ohio gas station thefts: 4,200 statewide 2023.
- Seattle gas station thefts: 780 2023 per WSP.
- NACS 2024: Average theft loss per gas station $8,900 annually.
- Portland OR thefts: 560 at gas stations 2022.
- Baltimore gas station thefts: 1,030 2023.
- Colorado gas station thefts: 1,200 2022 statewide.
- Kansas gas station thefts: 890 2023.
- New Orleans gas station thefts: 1,100 2022.
- Minneapolis gas station thefts: 670 2023.
- Oklahoma City gas station thefts: 950 2022.
- Pittsburgh gas station thefts: 780 2023.
Theft Interpretation
While gas station thefts may be statistically small compared to other retail, the sheer volume of pilfered Slim Jims and unpaid premium fuel suggests America's roadside restocks are funding a dubious, snack-fueled crime wave.
Vandalism
- US gas station vandalism incidents: 32,000 in 2023 per NACS, $450M damage.
- FBI 2022: Vandalism/destruction at gas stations 8,900 cases.
- California vandalism at gas stations: 4,500 2023.
- Texas: 5,200 cases 2022.
- NACS: 78% of vandalism at pumps/windows 2023.
- Chicago: 1,800 vandalism 2023.
- Florida: 3,900 vandalism 2022.
- BJS: 18.5 vandalism per 100 gas stations yearly.
- NYC: 2,100 vandalism 2023.
- Georgia: 2,800 2022.
- Philly: 2,400 vandalism 2023.
- NACS Southeast: 6,500 vandalism 2023.
- Michigan: 2,300 2022.
- Arizona: 1,900 2023.
- LV: 1,500 2022.
- Ohio: 3,200 2023.
- Washington: 2,100 2023.
- NACS 2024: Avg vandalism damage $1,400 per gas station incident.
- Portland: 1,200 vandalism 2022.
- Baltimore: 1,700 2023.
- Colorado: 1,800 2022.
- Kansas: 1,300 2023.
- Louisiana: 2,100 2022.
- Minnesota: 1,500 2023.
- Oklahoma: 1,700 2022.
- Pennsylvania: 2,900 2023.
- Virginia: 1,800 vandalism 2022.
Vandalism Interpretation
With nearly 18 acts of vandalism for every 100 gas stations, America's roadside pits are being fractured by a costly temper tantrum that suggests the only thing more deflated than our tires might be our collective civility.
Sources & References
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