Violence and Crime in Fast Food Outlets

Fast food operations have suffered serious crime problems since their beginning in the 1920s. White Castle, the first fast food chain, built its outlets in inner cities near transportation hubs and its major customer target was workmen from nearby industries. To reach the night shift , White Castle outlets were generally open late at night. As inner cities deteriorated during the 1950s, crime, violence , and vagrancy increasingly became problems for White Castle. Outlets that were open late were frequent targets for robbery because they were the only retail business open at those hours. White Castle outlets also became havens for homeless people and prostitutes; many used White Castle restrooms to bathe. White Castle invested heavily in security measures and began closing establishments early. One reason why many post–World War II fast food chains moved to the suburbs was due to the crime, violence and vagrancy of plaguing inner-city fast food establishments. However, during the 1960s this policy was reversed and many fast food chains began opening outlets in inner cities, as suburbs became saturated with fast food outlets. Fast food restaurants have been more attractive to armed robbers than other retail businesses open late at night.

Convenience stores and gas stations, for example, increasingly rely on credit, whereas most fast food operations rely on cash, which means that many outlets have thousands of dollars on the premises. In addition, many fast food restaurants are near off -ramps and drive-thru windows permit an easy getaway. Particularly vulnerable have been employees who deliver fast food to homes. On average, four to five fast-food workers are killed every month on the job, usually during the course of a robbery. In 1998, more restaurant workers than policemen were murdered on the job.

In addition, fast food employees are responsible for inside theft. In fact, no other industry is robbed so frequently by its own employees as are fast food chains. The combination of low pay, high turnover, and ample cash has made fast food outlets ideal for employee theft .

In 1996, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed guidelines for preventing violence at restaurants that do business at night. The National Restaurant Association opposed those OSHA guidelines on retail violence, as did the National Association of Convenience Stores. Companies were afraid that employees would use the guidelines in lawsuits against companies where violence occurred and they did not want OSHA to impose fines or compel security measures. Fast food chains have reduced violence by installing security measures, including video cameras, panic buttons, drop-safes, burglar alarms, and additional lighting, but they remain vulnerable. In May, 2000, five employees at Wendy’s in Queens, New York, were murdered. One of the murderers had previously worked there. To discourage robbery, some fast food chains now accept credit cards, which limits the amount of cash on hand. Other chains have limited their hours and installed bulletproof glass for drive-thru windows.