QuikTrip Expands Anti-Theft Fuel Card Program
KANSAS CITY, Kan. & KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Beginning today, QuikTrip will begin free sign-up at all QuikTrip locations for the PumpStart card as part of its program to implement its new PumpStart Card program at all 70 Kansas City stores. The Tulsa, Okla.-based company operates 448 stores in nine states
"The QuikTrip stores in Kansas City lost almost $4 million in gasoline thefts last year. We intend to stop it," said company spokesperson Mike Thornbrugh. “By eliminating gas theft, law enforcement officers will be able to allocate more time and manpower to focus on other crimes. It will also help eliminate dangerous and erratic driving by gasoline thieves speeding from our parking lots.
“The PumpStart program also allows store employees to give even better customer service as they will no longer have to worry whether a customer is trying to steal gasoline.”
The local law enforcement community enthusiastically applauded QuikTrip's proactive stance to stop gasoline thefts. "It will allow law enforcement to focus on more important crimes," said Capt. Rich Lockhart of the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
"We have implemented this program in our Tulsa, Oklahoma, Wichita, Kansas and 19 Kansas City metropolitan area stores and the response from customers and law enforcement officials has been very positive," Thornbrugh said. "The PumpStart Card program is a more convenient payment system for cash customers at these prepay stores, and it eliminates gasoline theft."
The PumpStart program is the first of its kind in the United States. The entire process takes a few seconds. A QuikTrip store employee enters the customer's valid U.S. driver's license, and then issues the customer the new PumpStart card. By inserting the PumpStart card into the card reader at the pump, the cash customer can now start the pump without having to go into the store and prepay for fuel.
"The PumpStart program makes life easier for our cash customers, and tells the crooks you can't steal gas from QuikTrip," Thornbrugh said.
"The QuikTrip stores in Kansas City lost almost $4 million in gasoline thefts last year. We intend to stop it," said company spokesperson Mike Thornbrugh. “By eliminating gas theft, law enforcement officers will be able to allocate more time and manpower to focus on other crimes. It will also help eliminate dangerous and erratic driving by gasoline thieves speeding from our parking lots.
“The PumpStart program also allows store employees to give even better customer service as they will no longer have to worry whether a customer is trying to steal gasoline.”
The local law enforcement community enthusiastically applauded QuikTrip's proactive stance to stop gasoline thefts. "It will allow law enforcement to focus on more important crimes," said Capt. Rich Lockhart of the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
"We have implemented this program in our Tulsa, Oklahoma, Wichita, Kansas and 19 Kansas City metropolitan area stores and the response from customers and law enforcement officials has been very positive," Thornbrugh said. "The PumpStart Card program is a more convenient payment system for cash customers at these prepay stores, and it eliminates gasoline theft."
The PumpStart program is the first of its kind in the United States. The entire process takes a few seconds. A QuikTrip store employee enters the customer's valid U.S. driver's license, and then issues the customer the new PumpStart card. By inserting the PumpStart card into the card reader at the pump, the cash customer can now start the pump without having to go into the store and prepay for fuel.
"The PumpStart program makes life easier for our cash customers, and tells the crooks you can't steal gas from QuikTrip," Thornbrugh said.