I guess experiences vary. I'll defer to anyone else's view in terms of interstate rest stops being a hot bed of criminal activity, in terms of how they view risk. And that's fine.
I traveled upwards of 50,000 miles across the US and Canada for almost two years extended travel; Florida to California, Washington state to Ontario CA, and many places in between. Interstates are generally restricted access highways, so dude has to get there by car, typically. Plus dude has to be there for "a while" looking over the potential victims as they come and go. From my experience, it's fairly easy to spot unusual activity, since I'd guess 99% of people stopping are there to have a pee or a smoke. Dude tends to stand out. Yes I'm paying attention, same as I am everywhere.
YMMV I guess, but I would not put rest stops up there with say, the local WalMart, or local gas stations, situated close to the exits. Of all the times I've felt uncomfortable, it's been in one of those kinds of situations. Generally if I'm pocket carrying my hand is on my gun while looking outward from where I am parked. Some examples that spring to mind:
- Large uh extended family in a mini-van, eating a bucket of chicken, parked at a service station at an exit, exhibiting more than passing interest in my truck. Filled up and left.
- Sedan pulls in close to my rig when I am parked in the outer rim at a Publix. This is just off the interstate. Observed the vehicle the whole time, got in, left.
- Making a short detour off the perimeter in the South part of Atlanta, crossing over the bridge that connects E to W 285. I was clearly in the wrong part of town, with a shiny truck and brand new Airstream trailer. I never actually stopped moving, even at the red light. (As a side note, it turns out you can make a U turn with a 55' long articulated truck+RV combination in a surprisingly short amount of space if you are motivated.
).
- Somewhere in Texas at a WalMart (San Antonio?) dude accosts me and my wife after we locked the truck in the middle of the lot. Just did my "sorry sir can't help you" and got out of the lot and into the store.
- Truck stop dump station, just off I4 in Tampa. Two dudes having an animated conversation in Spanish across the parking lot. No clue what they were saying. One ended up walking past my rig, which I thought was odd. I completed my task and gtfo.
I can't recall anything like this happening at an Interstate Rest Stop.
In the article quoted, the couple that got the Bear Spray "cut through the fence" and walked in. This is what I meant by access. I'd guess the rest stop in question was close by a local area. So in terms of an en route journey, out West say, dude is not going to be able to just walk there from town that easily. I'd guess Wal Mart is a better place to scout for victims, or a gas station close to town. Now, if ya'll are talking about rest stops, that ARE near town, or within walking distance, sure, I can see that.
So that's my experience. I'm sure bad things happen at rest stops, but I've not seen any reason to be more on the alert at one than I normally am, and I am typically pretty alert.