ATLANTA – After being robbed while pumping gas, Atlanta Councilwoman Keisha Lance Bottoms has safety top of mind, Fox 5 Atlanta reports. That incident spurred Bottoms to introduce a measure that would mandate gasoline stations with at least two serious criminal incidents in a 12-month period to pay for a police officer to patrol the premises during business hours.

Last month, Bottoms was a victim of “surfing” at a local gas station. “And I was so focused on trying to see if I could get gas at this pump and there was nobody around, so I didn’t turn around and lock my door and probably in less than two minutes they had my phone and purse and I never saw it. I only knew it when I drove off,” she said.

The thieves enter the vehicle from the opposite side of where the person stands by the gas pump and simply takes purses, wallets, electronics or phones usually from the front seat. “They are really surfing the other side of the vehicle, stealing from inside of the vehicles,” said Atlanta City Police Chief George Turner.

Bottoms said she’s heard similar accounts from friends, and her goal is to stop such crimes at gas stations. The police department has rolled out a billboard message sign warning motorists to keep an eye on valuables and lock their car doors while filling up.

The measure would allow the city to not renew a business license if the convenience store owner wasn’t complying. Right now, it’s unclear whether Bottoms will have the support she needs to get the bill passed in the full council.

NACS has many resources to assist convenience stores and gas stations in providing a safe environment for customers.