Mechanical damage to meters is usually caused by vehicles, such as a car if the meter is exposed to the driveway, or a lawn tractor if the meter is exposed to landscaping. Mechanical damage could also occur because of poor, or no, support.
Leakage is the big danger here. A gas leak could cause an explosion.
Look for gas meters exposed to damage and look for the damage itself. Where meters are in susceptible locations, such as driveways or carports, they're often protected by steel posts filled with concrete.