Retail security and loss prevention strategies have significantly evolved during the last decade. Transitioning from reactive monitoring to proactive prevention, using sophisticated tools, has helped gasoline marketers combat increasingly sophisticated security breaches.
“The model where employees police everything in the store and catch people after the fact just doesn’t work anymore,” says Wisfe Aish, CEO and founder of Double AA Corporation, a fuel service provider in California. “Loss is more organized and predictable now. Instead of random acts of theft, we see repeat offenders, coordinated theft, and targeted categories.”
Aish says that on the fuel side, theft has become more technical, so fuel loss prevention is also far more technical now. Operators are forced to use systems for prevention – not just rely on eyes in the store.
“Live tank monitoring allows us to see what’s happening in real time. When inventory doesn’t match sales, we know immediately something is wrong – whether someone is tampering with the dispenser or pulling gas directly from the tank,” Aish says. “This is a big shift from relying on an employee noticing a problem hours later.”
Labor has also driven the way gasoline marketers handle theft. As Aish explains, with staffing challenges caused by high turnover, it’s simply unrealistic to expect one cashier to watch everything.
“Technology allows multiple people – managers, dispatchers, owners – to see what’s happening at the same time,” Aish says. “The more eyes that are watching, the less dependence there is on one overworked person. Security is really an operations issue today: It’s about keeping stores open, protecting employees, avoiding disruption, and maintaining trust with customers and the community.”
Trevor Horwitz is widely recognized as a cybersecurity leader with over two decades of experience. As the co-founder and CEO of two cybersecurity companies, TrustNet and iTrust, Horwitz has pioneered innovative information security and data protection solutions.
Horwitz points out that security technology within the gasoline marketing space has shifted from a reactive, mostly physical model to something much more proactive and technology-driven. It’s not just about preventing shoplifting anymore.
“We’re seeing threats across the board, from internal fraud and organized retail crime to cyberattacks targeting payment systems and fuel dispensers,” Horwitz says. “The environment has changed, and so have the tactics. Operators today are thinking beyond security cameras. They're looking at data, automation, and real-time response. That’s the evolution.”
The biggest shift of technology being used for security and loss prevention has been the integration of AI, cloud, and connected systems. As Horwitz explains, cameras now come with built-in analytics. They don’t just record; they detect and alert. POS systems can flag suspicious transactions in real time. Cloud platforms give operators visibility across multiple stores from a single dashboard.
“We’re also seeing a lot more IoT in the environment, like smart sensors in coolers, pumps, and access points,” Horwitz says. “All of these technologies are working together to reduce blind spots and automate the response.”
Keith Carpentier, CEO and founder of Qbuster Technologies, has also seen an uptick in the application of store surveillance, license plate readers, smart lighting, and facial recognition technology.
“This will increase at an exponential rate with the adoption of AI-based security systems and wearable security devices for staff,” Carpentier says.
Inventory and fuel monitoring systems have also made a huge impact in securing a gasoline marketers’ assets.
“Since we’re tied directly to tank readings, we can see how fast fuel is leaving the ground. When that rate is inconsistent with historical patterns, it stands out immediately,” Aish says. “This has allowed us to catch fuel theft in progress and alert station operators before the losses escalated.”
Inside of the stores, the Double AA Corporation team has tried a mix of technologies – such as cameras, POS systems, cash controls, and access systems. They’ve adopted some technologies, while others they are still watching and considering.
“For example, AI-enabled video and analytics have been around for a while – longer than business owners may realize – and though the cameras are getting better, we’re not fully sold yet,” Aish says. “There are dedicated license plate recognition systems out there, but we don’t use them since our 4K cameras can capture license plates when needed. The bottom line is, businesses shouldn’t adopt technologies just because they sound advanced. Use technology that is reliable, proven, and actually useful.”
According to Dean Drako, CEO of Brivo, a company that provides cloud-based physical security solutions, new cloud technologies and AI integrations for access control and video surveillance have evolved rapidly and are being widely deployed in retail and c-store environments. AI and cloud-native security technologies are easy to use, requiring little training for store and loss prevention personnel.
“However, the main reason this technology is taking off is because it can address the persistent security and operational challenges that these retail locations face, including employee shrinkage, robberies, and organized retail crime such as fuel theft,” Drako says. “The need for 24/7 on-site personnel and constant multi-screen monitoring has decreased as proactive smart security alerts enable more effective real-time monitoring of locations.”
As Drako points out there are significant benefits to the use of technology for security and loss prevention. First and foremost, it results in faster detection and response, which has reduced fuel theft. Also, there is a deterrence factor because people behave differently when they know there are theft prevention systems in place that actually work.
Additionally, employees are more at ease because the stores feel safer when there are more people, better lighting, and increased visibility. There are also better investigations because clear data is always more effective than guessing.
“The ROI of prioritizing safety is clear: Safe stores retain both employees and customers alike,” Aish says. “Not only do they experience less turnover, they attract customers because people will always choose a station that feels safe over a cheaper one that does not.”
Importantly, today’s technology gives operators control like real-time visibility, faster response, and fewer losses. You don’t have to wait until after the fact to investigate because the data tells you what’s happening now, and you can act on it.
“It also creates efficiency. Instead of digging through hours of footage or reports, you get alerts when something’s off,” Horwitz says. “That kind of intelligence lets you focus on the right issues at the right time. It’s not just about security but about running a tighter operation.”
Of course, loss prevention should not equal sales prevention. While Carpentier believes loss prevention measures are certainly important, gasoline marketers and c-store owners must also consider the shopper experience and how they can have a positive impact on sales of merchandise that is often placed in locked displays.
During COVID, Carpentier developed AisleBuyer, which helps retailers provide a path-to-purchase for shoppers to buy locked merchandise using QR code technology. After making their selection and purchase of locked items, shoppers continue their in-store journey and are provided updates of where to collect the items at checkout at the end of their shopping experience.
“It's an ideal way to give control back to customers through tech they already understand while maintaining security of inventory that is of higher value. It's a clear win-win for everyone involved,” Carpentier says. “Recently, we have innovated again and launched a new Remote Unlock technology that allows staff to be efficient in remotely unlocking protected products, creating a seamless and friction-free customer journey.”
Technology for security it not without its challenges and limitations. When there are a lot of false alarms, alert fatigue sets in because people stop paying attention to systems that trigger constantly. Also, technologies – like video, POS, tank monitoring, and access control – don’t always talk to each other, which, Aish explains, makes integration challenging.
“Cost matters as well. Buying hardware once is one thing, but when you purchase ongoing subscriptions, monitoring, and maintenance, those costs add up quickly,” Aish says. “In some markets, no amount of technology a business owner buys is going to fix the theft problem. You can’t 'tech' your way out of stolen cars crashing into buildings. In tougher communities, we’ve had to make hard decisions about where investment does and doesn’t make sense. Also, none of this works without people. If no one reviews the data or follows the protocols, even the best systems will fail.”
Drako also explains that centralized management across multiple sites can lower operational overhead, while stronger cybersecurity controls and automatic updates help reduce maintenance burden and limit exposure from outdated software or insecure devices.
“Integrating access control with video also strengthens accountability and auditability for restricted areas, supporting clearer incident timelines and better compliance documentation,” Drako says.
As expected, there’s always a tradeoff. These systems aren’t always easy to deploy. As Horwitz explains, they can be expensive, and integration with older tech isn’t always seamless. For smaller operators, that’s a real barrier. There’s also a cybersecurity risk.
“The more connected your systems are, the more exposed you are if they’re not properly secured,” Horwitz says. “A lot of breaches happen through overlooked devices. And then there’s the human aspect to consider: training staff, managing alerts, making sure privacy concerns are addressed. The tech is powerful, sure, but it has to be managed well in order to actually make it effective.”
As we have seen, security and loss prevention protocols and technology are constantly evolving as new solutions emerge and new behaviors on the part of the “bad guys” are modified.
But one thing’s for sure: Technology will increasingly become more real time and fuel, forecourt, and in-store data will continue to merge. Remote monitoring will matter more, especially for multi-site operators.
Drako points out that several key advancements in security technology will include:
Cloud-managed video surveillance that enables managers to centrally and remotely manage security cameras across an unlimited number of store locations.
The ability to enhance standard security cameras with AI so they generate alerts when a threat is present (such as gun detection) or other unwanted activity is occurring, (such as loitering).
Natural-language video search to quickly locate incidents across multiple security cameras and locations.
Technology to securely share relevant live or recorded video footage with emergency personnel during an emergency.
AI-powered integrations between video and access control, such as “anomaly detection” that enables loss prevention and security teams to correlate access activity (people entering or exiting a location) with associated video footage, and POS integrations that associate video with suspicious transactions.
“These advancements have directly impacted the retail approach to employee shrinkage, sweethearting – giving family and friends discounts during checkout –, and organized retail crime at convenience store locations,” Drako says.
Also, Aish believes systems will become increasingly connected, making good cybersecurity a must. More connected systems mean more risk – and that’s something operators can’t ignore.
“Our advice is simple. Start with where you’re actually losing money, not with a tech checklist,” Aish says. “Choose systems that reduce noise and create action, and make technology acquisition a program, not a one-time purchase. There must be technology training and review.”
Also, remember that technology supports human decisions. Aish says it is vital to keep your employees in the loop of the process rather than replacing their judgment with tech. Be sure to work with partners who are paying attention and willing to flag issues early.
“Security works best when it’s practical, shared, and built into daily operations,” Aish says. “It won’t work if it’s bolted on as an afterthought.”
Horwitz stresses that the technology being used in security is only going to get smarter and more predictive. The industry is moving toward systems that don’t just respond but anticipate.
“That’s going to be a big advantage for operators who are ready for it. But you have to be strategic. Don’t just add tools for the sake of it; start with the risks that matter most to your business,” Horwitz says. “Focus on practical wins like fraud detection, inventory shrinkage, and remote monitoring, and build from there. And yes, you should absolutely embrace the technology, because at the end of the day, innovation is the only way to move forward. But do so with intention. Use technology to solve real problems and support long-term growth instead of turning to it for quick but vulnerable solutions.”
