Fuel Dispenser Theft Prevention: What We Learned at the NACS Symposium
Last year, Baillie Fabricating & Welding announced our Fuel Shield and Door Repair Bracket for Gilbarco Encore Series 500 and 700 Fuel Dispensers. These products, developed in collaboration with a major convenience store chain, help deter fuel dispenser theft at convenience stores nationwide.
In the time since, we’ve had the chance to connect with more convenience store operators and loss prevention professionals. We’ve heard about the latest theft trends and the effectiveness of these products, as well as what other solutions operators are looking for.
Our Time at the NACS
Baillie Fab recently attended the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Loss Prevention & Safety Symposium in Dallas, TX. Events like this are valuable to our metal fabrication shop because they bring together the people closest to the problems of dispenser tampering and theft.
At the show, we displayed our two products for the Gilbarco Encore Series 500 and 700:
Fuel Shield
The Fuel Shield is a sheet metal system that covers all the internal wiring and circuit boards on the main frame of the fuel dispenser. Once installed, it virtually eliminates access to the pulser wiring and power supply circuit boards, deterring thieves from attempting a break-in. The Fuel Shield is offered as a retrofit kit complete with hardware for easy installation.
Door Repair Bracket
When Gilbarco fuel dispensers are broken into, thieves usually gain access to internal wiring by breaking the lower door latch clip. After the initial theft, stores are left with an unsecured dispenser that can potentially be accessed repeatedly until the door is repaired.
Our Door Repair Bracket is a stainless steel repair bracket that fits Gilbarco Encore Series 500 and 700 fuel dispensers and installs in less than 30 minutes. It acts as a deterrent to future break-ins, as the dispenser becomes a more difficult target when thieves realize the durability of the bracket.
What We Heard on the Floor
One takeaway from the show was how regional this issue can be. Some US store operations have seen relatively few fuel dispenser break-ins, while other regions deal with constant abuse and theft. But the pattern was clear: when operators do face this problem, they are excited to see our practical solutions.
The Fuel Shield drew strong interest from operators who liked its availability as a kit for existing dispensers. We even heard consistent requests to make the shields for new models and other brands. That feedback is helping guide our next steps, and we’re working on creating new products in the near future.
The Door Repair Bracket also generated a lot of excitement because it provides a time-saving repair option at a fraction of the cost of a new replacement door. The exterior-mounted stainless steel bracket restores the lower door latch clip. It installs with tamper-proof fasteners and comes as a complete kit with hardware and installation instructions.
Taking the Feedback
Our time at the NACS symposium was a great opportunity to learn about the needs of convenience store owners and share how metal manufacturing can play a helpful role in reducing fuel loss. If you’re dealing with dispenser break-ins, contact us to learn how you can purchase these products.
And if you have an idea for a new product unique to the needs of your business, request a quote to discuss the product development process with our Pennsylvania metal fabrication shop.
