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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsGas stations that will only serve you through security window...
Had an odd encounter today when I went to a gas station after dark to get a coke and use the washroom. My guess is that the station had been robbed recently but I've never seen anything like this before. First the guy didn't want to serve me at all, he asked me through the intercom what I wanted. I said I wanted to buy a drink and use the washroom. He said the store was closed. WTF? It's like 10PM and the station is always open.
I start to walk away and the guy says I can came in to use the washroom "but use it quickly". When I go to get the coke he won't serve me at the counter, instead I have to bring the coke outside and be served through a little security window on the side of the store. Now I worked in retail, including a 4 year stint at 7-11 so I know some of what it's like to worry about being robbed, though I was never personally robbed. I'm a little surprised as violent crime isn't what it's like in the states up here (not that we don't have our share), and I've never seen measures taken to that degree before. This is also a very safe neighbourhood.
steve2470
(37,457 posts)Sad but true.
Locut0s
(6,154 posts)It's probably more common here than I realize but this is the first time I've encountered it. I do remember another store a while back where you had to be buzzed in after dark and I'd never seen that till recently either. *sigh* People fucking suck (I mean the robbers in this case).
steve2470
(37,457 posts)I would imagine so.
Locut0s
(6,154 posts)Last time I was out east was years and years ago and I was a kid then.
Joe Shlabotnik
(5,604 posts)I don't know about Montreal.
steve2470
(37,457 posts)MiddleFingerMom
(25,163 posts).
.
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... we lived in "a very safe neighborhood".
.
There was a very BAD neighborhood about 4 blocks away. And I think Sharon Tate
lived in an EXTREMELY safe neighborhood when the Manson family came to visit.
.
When I tended bar in Michigan, there was a gas station attendant shot and killed on
the job. They caught the killer quickly and found that he had taken away about $16.
.
Gas stations and convenience stores are VERY high up on the list (maybe at the top)
of "most dangerous workplace" because of that very reason. Higher than a coal mine.
Higher than police work.
.
My local bank branch has added bulletproof glass between the tellers and the customers
within the last few months. I've dealt through the little windows at gas stations and
convenience stores for quite a few years (I still think they're in the minority, though).
I know if I were working the job... I'd WANT that security.
.
Thursday nights, we cashed paychecks at our bar and I might have 4-6 thousand
dollars in an open safe behind the bar. I never gave it a second thought until that
man was killed for sixteen dollars. I often wondered why I was never robbed (I had
nothing but a sawed-off baseball bat behind the bar for security).
.
I think because it was a pretty tough bar and any potential robber would have about
half-a-dozen pistols pointed at him within 5-10 seconds of saying, "THIS IS A FUCKUP,
MOTHERSTICKER!!!"
.
I really think that was it.
.
.
.
Locut0s
(6,154 posts)Violent crime isn't as big up here as down in the states and it's only recently that I've seen this kind of thing. So it's startling for me. Like I said I worked in 7-11 for 4 years and never was robbed. My mother has worked in 7-11 for over 20+ years and has never been robbed and she works in a bad neighbourhood. I've heard of other stores being robbed, but rarely with a gun.
MiddleFingerMom
(25,163 posts).
.
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You're just slow learners, that's all -- but nobody holds that against you.
.
.
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Locut0s
(6,154 posts)But sadly violent crime HAS been on the increase here in recent years. Vancouver has always been a large drug trafficking hub for North America. We've seen a small war break out here among some of the local drug gangs over the past 5 years or so, but that's usually limited to tit for tat executions. But I've seen more and more random acts of violence over the years too. But I still feel relatively safe walking through even the "BAD" neighbourhoods here. I just walked through part of "skid row" here in Vancouver today. The most I was worried about was someone swiping my backpack off my back or being accosted for money every 10 feet. I did avoid the worst section though. I guess I should be more on my toes but I'm not used to it. You guys are a bad influence on us
steve2470
(37,457 posts)Orlando graduated about 10 years ago or so. Sad. Even the white bread suburb I live in right now has done that.
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)it could be that corporate just set the rules for everyone.
They're like that-- less confusion and responsibility this way.
Locut0s
(6,154 posts)This is the first time I've seen something this extreme at any station.
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)it's loitering, homeless, and drunks, too.
Around here we have a few late night and 24 hour fast food joints, but after 10PM you go to the window. If you need to pee, get an extra cup. Some of them had problems clearing the place out at night, so now they just close it. Some could argue all night about whether that's right or wrong, but it's there.
A Shell station? If it's company owned, the rules could have come down from on high. If it's a franchise, who knows who had the bright idea to lock it up at night.
But, expect to see more of it. Seems to be the way to go.
On edit-- all the 7-11's around here are wide open all night, but I have seen deli's and such that buzz you in in other neighborhoods.