Owner of Philadelphia gas station hires armed security after his store was vandalized, ATM was stolen

A gas station owner in Philadelphia recently hired security guards armed with AR-15s or shotguns and kitted Kevlar to protect his business from the city’s increasing crime rate.

Neil Patel, who owns the Karco gas station located on Broad and Clearfield streets in Philadelphia, has decided to take law enforcement into his own hands by recruiting S.I.T.E. state agents to protect his employees and customers, Fox 29 Philadelphia reported.

“They are forcing us to hire the security, high-level security, state level,” Patel told Fox. “We are tired of this nonsense; robbery, drug trafficking, hanging around, gangs.”

He said that he had no choice but to hire the armed security after young people recently vandalized his business and stole its ATM. He said his car has also been targeted by criminals in the area.

“We wear Kevlar, we are trained, my guards go to training every other week, they’re proficient with [their guns] and with their taser, they know the law,” said S.I.T.E. Security State Agent Chief Andre Boyer.

It appears that not everyone is happy with the decision though. Patel said that local residents and neighbors have expressed mixed feelings having heavily armed security. Others don’t think that armed guards will keep away criminals.

“… according to some people, violent people, they carry the guns, they’re not afraid of them?” Patel said.

While Patel said that he listens to his customers, he noted that this decision was made for “the protection for the neighborhood and the customers.”

He added that his business has not experienced any incidents of loitering or other crimes since he brought in the security team.