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
1In 2023, assaults at US gas stations totaled 5,600 per NACS, up 8%.
Verified2FBI 2022 aggravated assault data: 1,890 at gas stations nationwide.
Verified3California assaults at gas stations: 1,200 in 2023, LA 450.
Verified4Texas: 890 assaults 2022 per DPS.
Directional5NACS: 42% of gas station assaults linked to robbery attempts.
Single source6Chicago: 450 assaults at gas stations 2023.
Verified7Florida: 780 assaults 2022.
Verified8BJS victimization: 7.2 assaults per 100 gas stations annually 2022.
Verified9NYC: 340 assaults 2023.
Directional10Georgia: 560 assaults 2022.
Single source11Philadelphia: 670 assaults 2023.
Verified12NACS Southeast: 1,200 assaults 2023.
Verified13Michigan: 450 assaults 2022.
Verified14Arizona: 340 assaults 2023.
Directional15Nevada LV: 280 assaults 2022.
Single source16Ohio: 670 statewide 2023.
Verified17Washington: 450 assaults 2023.
Verified18NACS 2024: 65% of assaults at gas stations involve customers.
Verified19Portland OR: 230 assaults 2022.
Directional20Baltimore: 390 assaults 2023.
Single source21Colorado: 450 assaults 2022.
Verified22Kansas: 290 assaults 2023.
Verified23Louisiana: 560 assaults 2022.
Verified24Minnesota: 390 assaults 2023.
Directional25Oklahoma: 450 assaults 2022.
Single source26Pennsylvania: 780 assaults 2023.
Verified27Virginia: 450 assaults 2022.
VerifiedAssault 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
1In 2023, gas station burglaries reached 18,500 nationwide per NACS.
Verified2FBI 2022: Burglaries at gas stations 4,200, 7% of commercial burglaries.
Verified3LA County gas station burglaries: 1,200 in 2023 per CA DOJ.
Verified4Texas gas station burglaries: 3,400 2022.
Directional5NACS report: 55% of gas station burglaries target ATM machines.
Single source6Chicago burglaries at gas stations: 890 2023.
Verified7Florida statewide: 2,100 gas station burglaries 2022.
Verified8BJS: Gas stations burglarized 12.4 per 100 sites yearly 2019-2022 avg.
Verified9NYC gas station burglaries: 670 2023.
Directional10Georgia gas station burglaries: 1,450 2022.
Single source11Philly gas station burglaries: 1,010 2023.
Verified12Southeast US: 4,500 gas station burglaries 2023 per NACS regional.
Verified13Michigan: 1,200 burglaries 2022.
Verified14Arizona: 780 gas station burglaries 2023.
Directional15Nevada: 450 in Las Vegas area 2022.
Single source16Ohio: 1,800 statewide 2023.
Verified17Washington: 890 gas station burglaries 2023.
Verified18NACS 2024: Avg burglary loss $3,200 per gas station incident.
Verified19Oregon Portland: 340 burglaries 2022.
Directional20Baltimore: 670 gas station burglaries 2023.
Single source21Colorado: 890 statewide 2022.
Verified22Kansas: 560 2023.
Verified23Louisiana: 1,200 2022.
Verified24Minnesota: 780 2023.
Directional25Oklahoma: 1,010 2022.
Single source26Pennsylvania: 1,670 2023.
Verified27Virginia: 890 2022.
VerifiedBurglary 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
1US drive-off fuel thefts hit 230,000 incidents in 2022 per NACS, $1.2B loss.
Verified2FBI property crime includes 45,000 gas drive-offs 2021.
Verified3California fuel thefts: 28,000 drive-offs 2023.
Verified4Texas: 35,000 drive-offs 2022, $200M loss.
Directional5NACS: Average drive-off $52 per incident 2023.
Single source6Chicago area: 4,500 fuel thefts 2023.
Verified7Florida: 22,000 drive-offs 2022.
Verified8BJS: Fuel theft 45% of gas station property crime.
Verified9NYC: 3,200 drive-offs 2023.
Directional10Georgia: 12,000 fuel thefts 2022.
Single source11Philly: 5,600 drive-offs 2023.
Verified12NACS Southeast: 45,000 drive-offs 2023.
Verified13Michigan: 11,000 fuel thefts 2022.
Verified14Arizona: 9,800 drive-offs 2023.
Directional15Las Vegas: 7,200 2022.
Single source16Ohio: 18,000 statewide 2023.
Verified17Washington: 12,500 drive-offs 2023.
Verified18NACS 2024: Drive-offs up 15% post-2022.
Verified19Portland: 4,100 drive-offs 2022.
Directional20Baltimore: 5,800 fuel thefts 2023.
Single source21Colorado: 9,200 drive-offs 2022.
Verified22Kansas: 6,700 2023.
Verified23Louisiana: 11,000 2022.
Verified24Minnesota: 8,900 2023.
Directional25Oklahoma: 10,200 2022.
Single source26Pennsylvania: 19,500 2023.
Verified27Virginia: 12,000 drive-offs 2022.
VerifiedFuel 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
1In 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.
Verified2FBI 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.
Verified3According to the California Department of Justice, Los Angeles County gas stations experienced 456 armed robberies in 2023, up 7% from the previous year.
Verified4A 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.
Directional5Texas DPS reported 892 robberies at retail fuel sites in 2022, with Houston leading at 234 cases.
Single source6In Illinois, Chicago police data from 2023 shows 312 gas station robberies, 40% involving firearms.
Verified7Florida Department of Law Enforcement stats reveal 567 gas station robberies statewide in 2021, a 15% increase post-COVID.
Verified8A Bureau of Justice Statistics survey found that gas stations suffer 9,200 robberies annually on average from 2018-2022.
Verified9New York NYPD 2022 data: 189 robberies at gas stations in NYC, down 22% from 2021 due to increased patrols.
Directional10Georgia Bureau of Investigation reported 345 gas station robberies in 2023, with Atlanta metro area at 56% of total.
Single source11In 2022, Philadelphia PD logged 278 gas station robberies, averaging 5.3 per week.
Verified12NACS data: Southeast US gas stations saw 1,120 robberies in 2021, highest regional total.
Verified13Michigan State Police 2023: 210 robberies at fuel stations, Detroit with 112 incidents.
Verified14Arizona DPS: 156 gas station robberies in 2022, Phoenix area 78%.
Directional15Nevada Gaming Control Board adjacent stats show Las Vegas gas stations had 89 robberies in 2023.
Single source16Ohio Attorney General: 412 gas station robberies statewide 2022.
Verified17Washington State patrol: 134 robberies at gas stations in 2023, Seattle 45%.
Verified18NACS 2023 survey: Average gas station robbery loss $1,450, with 72% cash theft.
Verified19FBI 2021: Gas stations 11% of non-residential robberies nationally.
Directional20Oregon DOJ: 98 gas station robberies in Portland metro 2022.
Single source21In 2021, US gas stations reported 2,500+ robberies per NACS, Midwest highest per capita.
Verified22Baltimore PD 2023: 156 gas station robberies, up 18%.
Verified23Colorado Springs PD: 67 robberies at gas stations 2022.
Verified24Kansas Bureau of Investigation: 123 statewide gas station robberies 2023.
Directional25Louisiana State Police: 289 robberies 2022, New Orleans 120.
Single source26Minnesota BCA: 145 gas station robberies 2023.
Verified27Oklahoma State Bureau: 198 robberies 2022.
Verified28Pennsylvania UCR: 456 gas station robberies 2023, Philly 210.
Verified29In 2023, convenience stores/gas stations saw robbery rate of 22.1 per 1,000 sites per NACS.
Directional30Virginia State Police: 167 gas station robberies 2022.
Single sourceRobbery 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
1Nationwide, gas station thefts totaled 45,000 incidents in 2022 per NACS, averaging $450 loss each.
Verified2FBI UCR 2021: Larceny-thefts at gas stations numbered 12,340, 3% of retail total.
Verified3Shoplifting at Texas gas stations: 8,900 cases in 2023, up 20% per DPS.
Verified4California gas stations reported 15,200 thefts in 2022, LA County 4,500.
Directional5NACS 2023: 68% of c-store/gas thefts involve merchandise under $100.
Single source6Chicago 2023 shoplifting at gas stations: 2,100 incidents per CPD.
Verified7Florida gas station thefts: 9,800 in 2022, Miami-Dade 2,300.
Verified8BJS 2022 victimization survey: Gas stations hit by theft 22 times per 100 sites annually.
Verified9NYC gas station thefts 2023: 1,890 per NYPD.
Directional10Atlanta metro gas stations: 3,450 thefts 2022 per GBI.
Single source11Philadelphia gas station shoplifting: 1,650 cases 2023.
Verified12NACS Southeast theft report: 12,000 incidents 2023.
Verified13Detroit gas stations: 1,120 thefts 2022 per MSP.
Verified14Phoenix thefts at gas stations: 890 in 2023 per AZDPS.
Directional15Las Vegas gas station thefts: 670 2022.
Single source16Ohio gas station thefts: 4,200 statewide 2023.
Verified17Seattle gas station thefts: 780 2023 per WSP.
Verified18NACS 2024: Average theft loss per gas station $8,900 annually.
Verified19Portland OR thefts: 560 at gas stations 2022.
Directional20Baltimore gas station thefts: 1,030 2023.
Single source21Colorado gas station thefts: 1,200 2022 statewide.
Verified22Kansas gas station thefts: 890 2023.
Verified23New Orleans gas station thefts: 1,100 2022.
Verified24Minneapolis gas station thefts: 670 2023.
Directional25Oklahoma City gas station thefts: 950 2022.
Single source26Pittsburgh gas station thefts: 780 2023.
VerifiedTheft 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
1US gas station vandalism incidents: 32,000 in 2023 per NACS, $450M damage.
Verified2FBI 2022: Vandalism/destruction at gas stations 8,900 cases.
Verified3California vandalism at gas stations: 4,500 2023.
Verified4Texas: 5,200 cases 2022.
Directional5NACS: 78% of vandalism at pumps/windows 2023.
Single source6Chicago: 1,800 vandalism 2023.
Verified7Florida: 3,900 vandalism 2022.
Verified8BJS: 18.5 vandalism per 100 gas stations yearly.
Verified9NYC: 2,100 vandalism 2023.
Directional10Georgia: 2,800 2022.
Single source11Philly: 2,400 vandalism 2023.
Verified12NACS Southeast: 6,500 vandalism 2023.
Verified13Michigan: 2,300 2022.
Verified14Arizona: 1,900 2023.
Directional15LV: 1,500 2022.
Single source16Ohio: 3,200 2023.
Verified17Washington: 2,100 2023.
Verified18NACS 2024: Avg vandalism damage $1,400 per gas station incident.
Verified19Portland: 1,200 vandalism 2022.
Directional20Baltimore: 1,700 2023.
Single source21Colorado: 1,800 2022.
Verified22Kansas: 1,300 2023.
Verified23Louisiana: 2,100 2022.
Verified24Minnesota: 1,500 2023.
Directional25Oklahoma: 1,700 2022.
Single source26Pennsylvania: 2,900 2023.
Verified27Virginia: 1,800 vandalism 2022.
VerifiedVandalism 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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