Transcript Document
Robbery is a crime "against a person," and is a frightening experience. It can result in injury or even death to the victim. When protecting yourself or business from robbery, it is important to remember to take preventive measures and make it obvious that those measures have been taken. Created by: Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office District III Detective Bureau Prevention At Home ROBBERY PREVENTION AT HOME • Do not allow strangers into your home, even if they are hurt or say they need help. Keep the door locked and call the police for them. • Do not advertise that you live alone. Don’t open doors blindly. (know who is on the other side visually before you open the door, ask for ID if necessary) • Don't be afraid to call the police to investigate suspicious circumstances, unusual people or strange noises. It is better to be safe then sorry. • When you move into a new home, change the locks. • Keep your curtains or shades closed at night. (with darkness on the outside and lights on the inside, anyone on the outside can see inside as if it were daylight) • Don't leave notes on your door announcing when you will be home. • Keep outdoor lights on at night. • Never give information to an unknown caller. Report nuisance calls to the police and the telephone company. • Keep your doors and windows locked. •If you arrive home and your door is open or things appear to be out of place - don't go in your home. Leave and call the police. • Write down license numbers of suspicious vehicles to give to the police, if necessary. The most important thing to do if you're robbed is to observe - be a good witness. COMMERCIAL ROBBERY PREVENTION EVERY business owner, manager and employee plays a part in making businesses safe. Here are some things you can do to help PREVENT a robbery: • · Have at least two employees open and close the business. If you must, turn on a hidden radio of TV so robbers will think there’s someone with you. • · Do not release personal information to strangers. Keep purses and personal valuables locked in desks or lockers. • · Install a robbery alarm and advertise your security alarm system with signs in visible locations. Develop a mutual aid system among stores on your block. Agree to keep an eye on each others' buildings and watch for any suspicious activities. Install "buddy buzzer" alarms so you can signal your neighbor to call police if you're being robbed. • · Use video camera surveillance and make it well known. Place a surveillance camera behind the cash register facing the front counter. Replace videotapes regularly and at varied times. IF YOUR SYSTEM DOSE NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY,YOU DON”T HAVE A SYSTEM! • · Keep your business neat and clean. A tidy, orderly place of business is inviting to customers, but not to robbers. Dressing neatly also sends the right message. • Be alert for "customers" who seem to be loitering or glancing around the store while appearing to shop or browse through a magazine. Especially in parked cars and around telephone booths. The most important thing to do if you're robbed is to observe - be a good witness. PREVENTION AT WORK • Be alert for "customers" who seem to be loitering or glancing around the store while appearing to shop or browse through a magazine. Especially in parked cars and around telephone booths. • If you see someone who is acting suspicious inside or outside, call the police to have them checked out. • At opening time, enter the store and check to see if it has been disturbed. Before closing, check the office, back rooms and rest rooms to make sure no one is hiding inside. • Keep all unused doors locked. Have employees use the main entrance, if possible. • Place markers at the main entrance that employees can use to help gauge the height of a robber as he leaves. • Display signs at entrances and exits indicating that safes require secondary keys not in the possession of employees. • 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. • Keep the outside of your business well lit at night and trees and bushes trimmed, so they don’t block lighting. • Use a safe that the clerk cannot open alone or that requires two keys. Post that fact conspicuously, including on the safe itself. • If your business runs an exceptionally high risk of robbery, you may want to invest in a bulletproof cashier screen. A screen "defuses" the robber's threat, but other prevention measures may be equally effective at lower cost. • Try to greet customers as they enter your business. Look them in the eye, and ask if they need help. Your attention can discourage a robber. Stay alert! Know who is in your business and where they are. PREVENTION ATWork WORK Prevention At CASH • Make sure your cash register area is clearly visible to outside observers. • Practice good cash control. Keep a minimum amount in your cash drawer and make regular drops into a safe. • 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. • Record the serial number of the bottom bill in each bin of the cash drawer, and instruct employees not to use these bills in making change. • Keep "bait" money in a spare compartment of cash registers. The bait packet should be separated by face value as other bills. Keep a list of the serial and series year numbers to give to law enforcement officials if you're robbed. • Vary times and routes of travel for bank deposits. Do not use marked moneybags. Consider using armored car money couriers. • Keep a low balance in the cash register. Place excess money in a safe, or deposit it as soon as possible. Drop all large bills right away. If a customer tries to pay with a large bill, politely ask if he or she has a smaller one. Explain that you keep very little cash on hand. PREVENTION AT WORK Stay alert! Know who is in your business and where they are. • Be extra CAREFUL after dark: Be cautious when taking out the trash or cleaning the parking lot. Make sure another employee inside the business keeps you within eye contact while you are outside of your building. If you see something suspicious, call the police. Never try to handle it yourself. It could cost you your life. it. Use only one register at night. Leave other registers empty and open. Tilt the register drawer to show there is no money in Leave blinds and drapes partially open during closing hours. • Make sure important signs stay posted. For example, the front door should bear signs that say, “Clerk Cannot Open the Time Lock Safe.” Prevention On The Road PREVENTION ON THE ROAD • Keep your car in gear, doors locked, windows rolled up. • Stay alert and aware of your surroundings, especially at intersections and stop lights. • Park in areas that will be well lit when you return. • There is safety in numbers! Walk with friends or a in a group. • If you are being followed, don't drive home or get out. Drive to the nearest police station, open store or business for help. Try to note the license number and description of the car and persons following you. • Don't advertise. If you are out at night, don't wear expensive or fancy looking jewelry. This is an invitation to trouble. • If someone tries to get in your car while you are stopped - drive away quickly. • Don't use ATM machines at night. Plan ahead and get your cash during safer times. Use ATM machines that are very visible. Avoid isolated ATM machines. • When using valet parking, provide the parking clerk with the valet key that most car manufacturers provide now. This prevents strangers from looking in your glove compartment and trunk and finding personal information. • Walk in open, well lit areas. • Avoid carrying a purse, if you can. WHAT TO DO DURING A ROBBERY Cooperate with the Robber • Stay Calm! Don't make any sudden movements to upset the robber. If you have to reach, tell the robber(s) what you are doing and why. • Give the robber(s) what they want. Don't argue. • Tell the robber about anything that might surprise him, such as someone who is expected to arrive soon. Keep it Short and Smooth • The longer the robbery takes the more nervous the robber is. • The average robbery takes less than 2 minutes. Don't Resist • Do exactly as you are told. If you don't understand what you are being told to do, ask. • If you have a silent alarm and can reach it without being noticed, use it. Otherwise, wait until the robber leaves. • Leave the job of catching the robber to the police. Be Observant • Observe the person(s) involved for the purpose of describing clothing and physical features. (scars, marks, tattoo’s) • Observe the person or persons' means of escape, direction of travel and description of vehicle. ONLY if you can do so without exposing yourself to harm. Call Police (9-1-1) After the Robbery is Over Give the robber time to leave. • Stay on the phone until police tell you to hang up. • Record the suspect(s) description on a piece of paper. Protect the Crime Scene • Don't touch anything. There may be suspect(s) finger prints or other physical evidence crucial to the investigation. Don’t be a hero. It’s better to lose your possessions then your life. What To Do After A Robbery WHAT TO DO AFTER A ROBBERY • Call the police immediately and remain on the line, even if you have already activated the alarm. • 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. • Ask any witnesses to stay until police arrive. If they can't, get their names, phone numbers and addresses. Call your business owner, manager, or other designated person. • 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. (scars, marks and tattoo’s) • Step outside the store when the police arrive so that they'll know the robber is gone and you are safe. • Let the police answer inquiries from the news media. • Do not discuss the amount of money taken with anyone other than police. REMEMBER: Remain CALM & COOPERATE. Try to REMEMBER what the suspect looks like. If you can SEE a “get-away” vehicle WRITE down a description and license plate number. Call 9-1-1 as soon as it’s SAFE!