Stopping by the gas station when your car is low is a natural thing to do, regardless of the time of day. However, the common recommendation is to avoid this at night, especially for women. As the sun sets, the isolated spot becomes less crowded and a hotbed of crime, with dangers lurking in the shadows. For one Phoenix-based woman, the opposite happened, making her prefer hitting the gas stations at night.
While sitting in her car, Phoenix-based TikToker Serena Hinojosa (@serena_hinojosa) recalls an experience she had at a Circle K.
“I was feeling [brave] last night. The tank was low and I didn’t want to go in the morning,” she says.
At the time, she disregards the notion of peril at night: “Maybe it’s just overhyped that it’s dangerous, right?” But this danger isn’t exaggerated. Company News reported that stations are the seventh most targeted location for violent crime. On top of that, the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting revealed that Phoenix had a homicide rate of 0.55 homicides per 100,000, twice that of New York City in June alone. All of these spell a recipe for peril.
Then, she paints the scene.
What happened at this Circle K?
“So, I pulled up to the Circle K and [there was] me, one other car, and a homeless man kind of by the corner of the store,” Hinojosa shares. When she began filling up her tank, she heard something that sent anxiety racing through her. “All of a sudden, I hear footsteps coming closer to me, and it sounds like somebody’s dragging something,” she shares. “Oh, [expletive]. I think it’s the homeless guy.”
As she brushes it off, the footfalls only grow closer. “Like, six feet away from me, I see this man,” she says. “So, I look up and the homeless man is staring right at me.” What the man did next shocks the content creator. “He goes, ‘If you were a superhero, you know what your name would be? A bad mother[expletive]’” she renacts, deepening her voice slightly. “And just walked away.” Instead of frightening her, she was amused.
“So, I’m now only going to gas stations at night,” Hinojosa concludes.
Viewers avoid this gas station at all costs
The video racked up over 119,000 views. Instead, viewers recommended QuikTrip (QT) because they felt safer due to its security presence.
“QT always, babes,” one viewer wrote.
Another echoed, “QT is the only place I will go at night. They always have security.”
Even a man was afraid to stop by Circle K while it’s dark. “As a 6’4 300lb dude, I don’t even go to circle K at night,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, others enjoyed the harmless experience.
“Wait but this was funny and harmless,” one commenter stated.
“Why do I actually love this interaction but please be careful,” another said.
Is Circle K safe?
Most gas stations pose safety risks at night. In particular, Circle K has had several deadly encounters over the years. Since 2014, five cashiers have been fatally shot on the job during the evening and nighttime shifts. Last year, OSHA proposed the maximum penalty amount of $16,131 after one of the gas company’s cashiers in Orlando, Florida, suffered a gunshot injury, citing failure to protect the employee from workplace violence.
“The safety of our team members is always a top priority for us. As we strive toward our goal of zero harm to our people and customers, we have made significant investments in technology process improvements and training to better ensure a safe environment in our stores and facilities,” a spokesperson told Convenience Store News in response to the incident.
Daylight hours are the safest time to get gas. If you need to fill the tank up after dusk, AAA lists these tips to stay safe:
- Be alert by paying attention to your surroundings
- Choose a gas station closest to the light and to the store
- Keep all valuables on you or out of sight
- Have your phone hidden
@serena_hinojosa #phoenix #arizona #fyp #gasstation ♬ original sound – serenahinojosasa
The Mary Sue reached out to Hinojosa via TikTok comment and direct message.
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