Robbery Prevention

Business Robbery:

• Keep your store neat and organized. A professional appearing business projects the image that security measures have been taken and that the chances of success are limited.
• Avoid Routines! A routine is easily learned by a robber by watching a business for just a few days. If taking a cash deposit to the bank, take the deposit at a different time each day. If possible, have a different person take the deposit. Avoid taking the exact same route to the bank each day. If making large cash deposits, consider using an armored car service. This may not be cost effective for smaller amounts of cash.
• Encourage customers to use credit or debit cards. This reduces the amount of cash in the building making it a less desirable target. It also reduces your loss in case of robbery. An additional benefit is that cashiers are unable to make errors when giving change and unable to pilfer cash.
• Limit the amount of cash on hand. Keep as little money as possible in register tills by making frequent cash pick-ups.
• Use drop safes or time-delayed safes. Limit the number of employees who have access to the safes. Post notices in conspicuous areas stating that a minimum amount of cash is available (around $50-$75, usually).
• To increase the chance of detection, locate registers in an area that is clearly visible from both the inside and outside of the store. Keep the register area well lit. Do not tint windows or clutter them with posters or merchandise. Do not have high shelving near windows that can block the view in from outside.
• Keep bushes, shrubs and trees well pruned and as low as possible or away from windows. This improves visibility from outside, as well as eliminating hiding places for potential robbers.
  Use closed circuit television cameras or other video cameras, especially around cash registers and offices where cash is kept. Make it obvious that cameras are in use. If possible, create a dummy recorder with a blank tape, or a back up copy of the tape in case a robber demands the tape. Keep the actual tape or original recording in a separate, hidden and locked place.
• Lock doors to offices or other places cash is kept. Limit the number of keys available and the employees who have access to the office. Use dark tint or two way mirrors on office windows. This allows you to observe the sales floor, but makes it difficult for potential robbers to tell if anyone is in the office watching them.
• Limit access to the register area. Use locking gates or raised platforms. Have cashiers lock their registers and move away from the registers. They can use this time to make eye contact and greet all customers, removing the anonymity for potential robbers. It also makes it difficult to rob the registers if no one is around.
• Restrict access to the business by locking all side or back doors and limiting customers to one or two exits, depending on the size of your business.
• Limit escape routes by using fencing around the back and sides of your business. This forces robbers to leave through higher traffic areas where they are more likely to be seen or apprehended.
• Do not allow employees to let people in before opening or after closing. Employees arriving before opening or after closing should arrive and leave in groups if possible. Do not attempt to enter or leave the business when closed if there is anyone “hanging around.” If someone is around when the store is closed, from inside your vehicle or inside the building after close, explain that the store is closed and ask them to come back after opening.
• If feasible, have two workers on after dark, especially in businesses that are open overnight.
  

Delivery Person Robbery

• Have drivers carry less than $10 (or whatever amount) for change. Inform customers when they place their order that the driver will be unable to make change for large bills.
• Print that drivers carry no more than $10 etc worth of cash on delivery menus.
• Do not put identifying signs on vehicles advertising that it is a delivery vehicle. This makes it less likely that the driver will be targeted for a robbery.
• Encourage customers to use credit cards or checks for their orders.
• Provide a locked box where drivers can leave their tips instead of carrying them around all night.
• Use caller ID. If a number is displayed as “anonymous” “Private” or “P” this indicates the caller is blocking their number from being displayed. Ask them to disable caller-ID block by dialing *87 before the rest of the number.
• If the customer refuses and you do not want to lose the sale, ask them for their phone number so you can call it back to confirm the order was actually placed. Legitimate customers will most likely comply, potential robbery setups will not.
• Cross reference phone numbers with delivery addresses by using a reverse directory. There are a number of software programs that can do this, or it can be done online through sites like www.reversephonedirectory.com.
• If an order seems suspicious, is going out very late at night, or to an area that might be dangerous, send two delivery people. Also consider investing in two way radios or cellular phones in case the driver runs into any trouble.