SEAT PLEASANT, Md. –The Prince George’s County Council okayed a bill that requires convenience stores and gasoline stations to have drop boxes and security cameras, WTTG-TV reports. Skip Fletcher, who has managed the 2000 Mart convenience store for a quarter century, said he approves of the measure. “It's best to have all the security cameras you can have in the store.” The store has around 12 cameras.

The new safety regulations mandate that retailers with overnight operating hours must have a surveillance system with at least three cameras that can record 24 hours at a time. Stores must also have drop safes bolted to the floor, and gasoline stations open between the hours of 11 pm and 6 am have to use a window-only access point overnight.

“It's going to be a life saver,” said Fletcher. “When I'm out front, the owner is in the back watching the cameras and he sees everything and can come help me if he sees anything going on out front.”

The new regulations will be in effect in 45 days, although businesses have up to a year to install two cameras, one above the cash register and one above the entrance. Within three years, a third camera facing the parking lot must be installed.

For more information on keeping your convenience store and gasoline station safe, visit the NACS Convenience Store Security and Safety section.