Sierra Madre Gas Square Tightening Security

Following news that credit and ATM card information was stolen from Valero gas customers in Sierra Madre, the town's other gas station--Sierra Madre Gas Square Inc. at 50 S. Baldwin Ave.--is investing in new security measures and providing enhanced services in an effort to assuage residents' fears about swiping at their pumps.

Sierra Madre Gas Square's owner, Bishara Kawar, said that many customers have mistakenly confused his station with Valero.

"We're sorry this happened again in Sierra Madre and we'd like to mention that this incident did not happen at the station on South Baldwin Avenue, Sierra Madre Gas Square Inc., it happened at the Valero station, which is on the corner of Sierra Madre Boulevard and Baldwin Avenue," said Kawar.

A New 24/7 Security System

In response to the fraud skimmer incident at the neighboring station, Kawar is installing a video surveillance system at Sierra Madre Gas Square that will record the pumps and station 24 hours a day. There will also be a motion detection system.

"We're taking enhanced security systems to make sure that this [fraud skimmers] does not happen at our place," said Kawar.

Rebuilding Trust in Customers

Kawar opened Sierra Madre Gas Square on the site of the former EVG gas station, which shut down after fraud skimmers were found in their pumps last year.

Kawar is the property owner and manager of the new gas station, which opened in February 2010. He says that it's been a struggle to win over customers.

"We're talking to one customer at a time," said Kawar. "We're offering our customers some free services: inflating tires, free air, water. ... We also help the disabled fill up their tanks with gas.

"We want to bring the old idea of a service station, not just a filling station," said Kawar. His attitude toward customer service is in tune with what many small businesses in Sierra Madre would call their mantra.

"We own the property and the operations. ... We're watching very carefully so that no one can come and do something without our knowledge," said Kawar.

Kawar is alarmed that gas pumps in Sierra Madre have been vandalized at all.

"[Valero's] owner is a good friend of ours, and we're really sorry to see that this happened at their station," said Kawar. "We hope that the police will finally find out what exactly happened."