Robbery is the crime of taking the property of another person by means of force or fear. Looking down the barrel of a robber�s gun will cause your fear factor to climb to the moon. It is probably not possible to totally eliminate the potential for a robber from striking your business, however, here are some tips that can help make you less of a target.
Please pay close attention to the section below about being a good witness. When the police officers arrive after the robbery, make sure to inform the officer of all items, counter-top surfaces, or anything else that the robber may have touched. The recent five armed-robberies in Lodi (that were recently solved) may not have been solved had it not been for an alert clerk. The clerk, a victim in a Hollister, California robbery, pointed out to the officers that the suspects handled two bags of potato chips. The officers had the bags examined for fingerprints. The laboratory not only found fingerprints, but identified them to a known suspect! The suspect in the Hollister robbery later confessed to committing four of the five robberies in Lodi!
ROBBERY PREVENTION TIPS
Anytime there is money in one place, there is a chance that someone will want that money, and is willing to use force to get it. You can take some simple steps o help reduce the chances that you or your business will be robbed. There is no way to fully prevent robbery but you can diminish your chances. Here's how:
Don't work alone if avoidable, but be forewarned: Two workers are neither a match nor a deterrent for a robber with a knife or gun.
Keep little cash on hand -- and make that public knowledge. Use frequent withdrawals or use a safe or drop box.
Make bank trips unpredictable, and travel in pairs.
Don't prepare deposits openly or carry deposits in visible bank bags.
Cameras, mirrors and alarms do not deter robbers. However, they may affect other crimes and often help with apprehension and prosecution.
Paid armed-security may or may not make a difference in terms of robbery.
Place height markers on doorway.
WHAT CAN YOU DO DURING A ROBBERY?
Follow company procedures.
Keep cool and calm if possible.
Don't appear to be stalling.
Make no sudden movements. If you have to move, explain why.
Cooperate fully with the robber's demands. Do exactly as ordered, i.e., if he demands all your tens, give him only tens.
De-escalate the situation as much as possible -- don't upset the robber.
Assume he's scared, desperate, intoxicated and mentally unstable.
Set off alarms or cameras only if and when possible and it is safe.
A demand note is good evidence. Try to slide it out of the robber's reach where he might forget about it.
WHAT TO DO IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ROBBERY
Call 9-1-1 and follow the call taker's instructions.
Administer first aid as needed.
If possible, we will want to talk to the direct victim of the robbery.
Have someone lock the doors & isolate all areas where the robber made contact.
Preserve evidence/fingerprints, i.e., avoid handling demand note if retained.
Keep witnesses at location or obtain I.D. information for contact later.
Keep witnesses apart to avoid influencing each other's recollections.
TRY TO BE A GOOD WITNESS
(but don't stare. Get a good description from top down)
Did you notice any scars, marks or tattoos?
Did you notice any accents?
How did he walk?
Did you notice eye color
Where did he put the gun?
Where did he put the the money?
Did he have accomplices?
Did he leave on foot or in a vehicle?
Direction of travel?
Contributed by:
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William Barry