Retail Esso – Gas station Home / Retail / Esso – Gas station Fog protection stopped series of burglaries in Esso gas stations During 2008, Esso gas stations in Norway experienced a wave of burglaries in their 40 gas stations, despite being protected by electronic alarms while closed at night. Having consulted with its alarm installation contractor, the oil company chose to provide all shops with fog protection, and this effectively stopped the burglaries. 13 gas stations were burgled in Norway during 2008! This was the discouraging record for Esso, which obviously was not acceptable. Esso consequently contacted the company’s traditional alarm installation contractor, and together they devised a solution which put a stop to the wave of burglaries. “40 of our 106 shops are closed at night. However, even though there is no money in the shops, we experienced 13 break-ins in 2008 where, among other things, tobacco products were stolen from the shops. In addition, each burglary resulted in substantial damage to property because the burglars chose to break in through the petrol station roofs,” said Health, Environment and Safety Officer at Esso, which operates Esso’s own stations in Norway. Security after break-in In collaboration with their traditional alarm installation contractor, the security of the shops which were already provided with electronic alarms was reassessed. The solution chosen was to expand the electronic alarm system with a roof sensor, triggering the alarm already when someone is on the roof, combined with installation of fog cannons inside the shops. The fog cannons in the Norwegian market were tested in collaboration with Esso, and PROTECT™ was chosen as the supplier due to the quality of the fog used. The test emphasised that the fog fluid must not be flammable, must not be harmful to shop employees and customers and must not contaminate the products in the gas stations. Little damage and one pack of cigarettes “It worked! In the past two years, we have had only two burglaries, and they have only caused minor damage to a door. All the thieves were able to steal was a single pack of tobacco, so we feel very lucky,” said Health, Environment and Safety Officer at Esso. One of the burglaries took place in an Esso gas station which had previously been the target of 4-5 burglaries. When the thief broke in and fog filled the room within seconds, he disappeared immediately without any loot. The other burglary took place in a small town, and the thief only managed to grab a single pack of tobacco before the fog made it impossible for him to find additional values in the Esso gas station. That very night, another petrol station in the same town was burgled. This station did not have fog protection, so the thieves looted the shop and took off with products of a considerable value. Secure your business with PROTECT™ Fog Cannons today Esso’s experience with PROTECT™ fog cannons speaks volumes – 13 burglaries stopped in their tracks, minimal damage, and negligible losses. If you want to protect your business effectively, don’t wait for another incident. Take action now and fortify your security with PROTECT™. Contact us today to learn more about how our fog cannons can safeguard your property and prevent losses.