Surviving an armed robbery

SURVIVING AN ARMED ROBBERY

SPONSORED BY COEBURN POLICE DEPT.

CREATED BY H. STALLARD 12/[email protected]

WHAT DO YOU DO NOW ?

DO YOU GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT ?DO YOU RESIST?

DO YOU FIGHT BACK?DO YOU BLOW THEM AWAY?

EVERY ARMED ROBBERY IS DIFFERENT…

WHAT IS RIGHT IN ONE WOULD GET YOU HURT OR KILLED IN ANOTHER.

THERE IS NO ONE RIGHT ANSWER

THIS PRESENTATION WILL MAKE YOU AWARE OF THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO YOU IN THE EVENT OF AN ARMED ROBBERY.

IT WILL SHOW YOU SOME STEPS TO HELP PREVENT AN ARMED ROBBERY AND WHAT STEPS TO TAKE AFTER IF YOU ARE EVER

THE VICTIM OF THIS TYPE OF CRIME

AN ARMED ROBBERY IS …

The felonious taking of property of another from his or her person or in his or her immediate presence, against his or her will, by violence or intimidation while armed with a dangerous weapon.

A DANGEROUS WEAPON IS…

A dangerous weapon can be anything from a gun, knife, baseball bat, rock, gasoline, acid, metal pipe, or any other of a thousand common items found almost anywhere.

ELEMENTS OF AN ARMED ROBBERY

ABILITY TO COMMIT THE OFFENSEHow easy is it to commit the robbery?


DESIRE TO COMMIT THE OFFENSEDo they have an expectation of success?


OPPORTUNITY TO COMMIT THE OFFENSEDo the benefits outweigh the risks?

PREVENTING AN ARMED ROBBERY

No one can say for sure that the following

strategies will prevent an armed robbery but they may make it so difficult for the perpetrator that they will choose to go elsewhere.

STRAGETIES TO BREAK THE CRIME TRIANGLEAbility to commit the offenceHow easy is it to commit the robbery?

STRATEGYIncrease the effort required to commit the

offence…harden the target, make it so difficult to commit the crime that they will go

somewhere else

HARDENING THE TARGETCash register or point of sale area

• The major target for criminal activity is the point of sale area. Behind the counter is your territory and there should be no opportunity for access behind the counter by customers.

• Minimize the visibility of the cash drawer, especially when it is open.

• Counters should be designed to provide as much distance as practicable between the customer and staff .

• Keep your front doors and windows clear of signs and posters to allow good two way visibility. Employees can see suspicious persons outside. Passers-by and police can see inside.

HARDENING THE TARGETCash register or point of sale area

• Advertise outside that you keep a minimal amount of cash in the register and that you will not accept large bills.

• Don't keep large bills under the cash drawer. If you don't have a safe, find a less obvious place to hide your extra cash until you go to the bank.

• Practice good cash control. Keep a minimum amount in your cash drawer and make regular drops into a safe.

• Never count cash in view of customers .

HARDENING THE TARGET

Opening and Closing

An analysis of crime trends clearly shows that businesses are at greater risk of victimization at the time of opening or closing.

Two persons should be on hand at opening and closing times.

At opening time, one person should enter the store and check to see if it has been disturbed.

Do not allow anyone into the premises after you have closed.


Opening and Closing

Before closing, one person should check the office, back rooms and rest rooms to make sure no one is hiding inside.

Before leaving the workplace staff should take the time to check for any suspicious activity in the vicinity of the premises.

Keep side and back doors locked. Have employees use the main entrance, if possible.


Safes A safe will deter, delay, and deny access to

valuable property and/or information. However, most safes are designed to secure money or valuable for a limited period of time only. If an offender has sufficient time and equipment, most safes can either be broken into or removed. Transfer money to banking facilities as soon as possible.

SafesConsider the following …

• Time delay locks or two key opening systems.

• Use a safe that the clerk cannot open alone or that requires two keys. Post that fact conspicuously, including on the safe itself.

• Limiting access to safe combination/keys .

• Anchoring safe to building structure.

SafesConsider the following …

• Safe with a drop slot…cash cannot be removed after it is fed into slot.

• Securing tools which could be used on safe.

• A dye bomb which will mark the contents inside.


BANK DEPOSITS• Vary your banking routine. Carry cash in a

variety of ways - a lunch sack, attaché case, flight bag, pocket, etc. Money bags are pretty obvious.

• Vary the times and routes that you use to go to the bank.

• Make deposits as often as possible, never less than once a day.


BANK DEPOSITS• Be alert for "customers" who seem to be

loitering or glancing around the store while appearing to shop or browse through a magazine.

• Watch for suspicious persons outside the business - especially in parked cars and around telephone booths.

• Call for a police escort to the bank.

STRAGETIES TO BREAK THE CRIME TRIANGLE

Desire to commit the offenceDo they have an expectation of success?

STRATEGY

Reduce the rewards available to the offender. Since it’s the cash they want, limit what they

can get. If they know that there is only a limited amount of cash they can get, they may choose to go elsewhere.

REDUCING THE REWARDS AVAILABLE TO THE OFFENDER

Limit the cash you have on hand The less cash held on your person or on the premises, the less

attractive you are as a target. Keep under $100 on you or on the premises if possible, especially at night. If you run a business, advertise the fact that you keep a minimum of cash on the premises.

Keep money where it can't be reached Deposit money in banks or secure holding units frequently.

Use a cash drop box with a time delay lock and advertise this with a sign if you have a business.

Keep money out of sight…Never count cash in view of customers

STRAGETIES TO BREAK THE CRIME TRIANGLEOPPORTUNITY TO COMMIT THE OFFENSE

Do the benefits outweigh the risks?

STRATEGYIncrease the risk of apprehensions

Cameras Use a good video camera surveillance system.

There are many cameras available that vary in quality. Pick a camera with good resolution. It is also important to consider the lens and ensure that it is suitable for coverage of the target area you have chosen.




Mirrors Mirrors allow staff to monitor sections of the

store obscured by physical barriers. Ensure that mirrors do NOT allow would be offenders to see your cash handling area.




Lighting The principal objectives of lighting should be: To ensure uniform coverage and brightness

through the area to eliminate dark spots that could conceal intruders and/or criminal activity.

To illuminate the vulnerable 'target' areas, e.g. stairwells, regularly used pathways.

In spite of everything you have done, you suddenly find yourself facing an armed robber…

Try to remain calm and control your emotions…you can be hysterical after it’s all over.

Do precisely as you are told, and no more…don’t volunteer any information or help.

Avoid eye contact with the robber…eye contact can be considered as a challenge to them and escalate the

probability of violence.

Speak only when spoken to.

Tell the robber exactly what you are doing…you definitely don’t want to startle someone with a weapon in a tense situation.

In spite of everything you have done, you suddenly find yourself facing an armed robber…

Make no sudden movements that could be interpreted as an attack against them.

Don't activate alarms unless it is safe to do so.

Try to get a good look at the robber so you can describe him later…gather as many details as possible.

Give the robber time to leave…if you follow too closely he may turn on you.

Note his direction of travel when he leaves.

Try to get a description of his vehicle ONLY if you can do so without exposing yourself to harm.

If you believe we are peddling mere passivity as someone takes away your hard-earned valuables, you're quite wrong.

There are other ways to fight back besides the 'macho' way of the movies.

Remember, one should only fight back physically as a last resort, when you feel as if your life or the life of someone with you is, at that moment, truly in danger.

The real reason you're complying with the robber - other than self-preservation against a gun or knife - is that such a manner will allow you to pay attention to every detail of the robber and his methods, enabling you to be a strong witness for the police.

BEING A STRONG WITNESS Most robbers slip apprehension because of bad or faulty

information from witnesses or from the crime scene. The most important thing is to gather and remember

information that might be helpful to the police. Try to notice distinguishing traits about the thief. Try to observe characteristics like sex, age, height, weight,

race, prominent or unusual features, and color of skin and eyes. In addition, noting identifying characteristics such as scars, tattoos, clothing, limps and traits of speech are all very helpful in finding the culprits.

Note behavioral characteristics: How does this person act? Worried, mad, confused, drunk? What was his speech like? Did he have an accent? If others were helping, did they use nicknames? What were the interactions with the other offenders? Was a particular person in charge?

AFTER AN ARMED ROBBERY Call the police immediately, giving: name and

address of premises you are in or near, its area and location; number of offenders and description; description of weapon used; description of vehicle used and direction of travel. If on foot, in what direction? If in a vehicle, try to get the license number.

Close the store and lock the door(s) if you have a key.

Do not discuss the details of the robbery with witnesses or fellow employees.

AFTER AN ARMED ROBBERY

Ask any witnesses to stay until police arrive. If they can't, get their names, phone numbers and addresses.

Do not touch anything that the robber may have touched. Block off areas where the robber was, if necessary.

Try to recall as much as you can about the robber's appearance, speech and mannerisms. Make notes.

Do not discuss the amount of money taken with anyone other than police.

IF YOUR LIFE IS IN IMMEDIATE DANGER

You’ve done everything they’ve asked…you’ve played by their rules…but they give every indication that they intend to do you harm…

You believe at this moment your only option for staying alive is to physically fight back.

IF YOUR LIFE IS IN IMMINENT DANGER

In Virginia, the use of deadly force is justified ONLY when your life or the life of someone else is in

immediate and imminent danger.

You must be able to prove that it was actually in danger and not that you just thought it was.

Deadly force is that force which is intended to cause or that carries a substantial risk of causing death or serious bodily injury.

FIGHTING BACK

When fighting for your life there is only one rule to remember…

Only the winner gets to go home !

• COEBURN POLICE DEPARTMENT

• 114 FRONT STREET

• 395-2111

• CHIEF SCOTT BROOKS

• [email protected]

Education

Surviving an armed robbery