Gas station owner hires heavily armed guards after 'getting tired of nonsense'
The owner of a US gas station has hired heavily armoured guards equipped with semi-automatic rifles following an increase in crime over recent years.
Neil Patel operates 22 gas stations across Philadelphia, and has seen his properties be the victim of burglary, carjackings and vandalism in recent times.
The store manager has become so sick of the crime, he has now taken drastic action in order to improve it - which has certainly divided locals.
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Now, you can now find at one of his gas stations armed guards who are there to protect the local community.
Speaking to Fox 29, he said: "They are forcing us to hire the security, high-level security, state level. We are tired of this nonsense; robbery, drug trafficking, hanging around, gangs.
"I fear for the safety of my employees as well as my nice neighbourhood."
Patel has hired the security guards from a group known as the PA SITE Agency Security.
He says that in the 20 years he has had the gas station, crime has gone really gone up in the last few years.
With the security now in place for a couple of weeks, it seems it has helped, as the Fox 29 Philadelphia report said there has been no notable crimes in recent weeks.
One of the members from the security team has taken to Instagram criticising local officials for why they are needed.
Andre Boyer said: "Citizens now realise Philadelphia law enforcement and city council leaders as well as the mayor’s office. [sic] Just don’t have a clue or the answers to combat this growing ticking bomb that’s just increasing along with the shootings and homicides in Philadelphia.
"Make no mistake folks, it’s dangerous out here. It’s the wild wild west In Killadelphia."
The implementation of guards has certainly divided opinion in the local community, with many taking to social media to share their thoughts.
Fox 29 presenter Jason Martinez took to Twitter to ask if the guards made them uncomfortable or safer.
One person said: "If it makes you feel uncomfortable, you are the issue, and the problem.
"After what that store owner has went through… This is the absolute best thing he could have did."
A second added: "Of course I’m uncomfortable with it because it got to the point that a business owner was forced to take these measures to protect his customers and store. This is a failure of the Philadelphia PD, the governor @TomWolfPA and the Biden administration."
And a third said: "If you’re uncomfortable it should be because it got to the point that a member of your community was forced to take those measures to protect his customers and store."
Callum Jones