There are broadly two operating models for petrol / gas forecourts. Either the shopper fills up and then goes inside the store to pay for their fuel and then (hopefully) other purchases, or they are asked to pre-pay by either going into the store or paying at the pump before fuelling.
The benefit of the pre-payment model is the risk of loss, through drive offs, or the customers not having a means of payment, is near zero. However, this model adds friction to the shopper journey and does not optimise the up-selling opportunity inside the shop.
In this podcast, Professor Adrian Beck and Colin Peacock consider how some retailers are lowering the risk of drive offs through computer vision using ANPR / LPR technology, digital incident reporting. While also recognising the importance of collaboration, especially with law enforcement to further reduce and prevent the risk of drive offs.