If You Are Robbed

• Preplan and train your employees what to do if they are robbed. Robbery occurs suddenly and is a crisis situation. Having an idea what should and should not be done during a robbery will decrease the chance that someone will be injured.
• Do NOT resist the robber. Give him the money or merchandise immediately and do not upset him. Do not chase after him. Do not make any sudden moves.
• Notify other employees as soon as possible, and consider alerting the robber that there are other employees on site so he is not startled.
• Focus on the robber’s appearance and any other obvious characteristics such as accent or speech patterns, as well as the exact words he used. Do not stare or make eye contact however. Do not make him think you are watching him too closely.
• As soon as he leaves, call police then lock the doors and do not let anyone enter or exit. Do not touch anything the robber touched or walk around where the robber walked. It is sometimes possible to find footprints which may be helpful when a suspect is identified.
• Use the suspect description guide to note as many details about the incident as you can remember.
• When you are recalling the suspect’s description, start at the head and work your way down to the shoes. Focus on hair color, any hat or head covering worn, glasses, facial hair, distinctive jewelry (piercings, necklaces, etc.). Next focus on clothing descriptions starting with the shirt, jacket or top, distinctive belts, pants and shoes. Note anything he carried, including any weapon or bag.
• Note any scars or tattoos.
• Note the vehicle used, including type, make and model, color, license plate and any other distinct marks (damage, bumper stickers etc.). See if there are any other people in the vehicle, such as a getaway driver. Get as good of a description as you can of any accomplices. Try to watch the vehicle as it leaves and give police the direction of travel.
• When recounting the incident, first start at the very first moment your attention was drawn to the robber and work your way to the end of the incident. Then, start at the end of the incident and work your way backwards to the beginning. This helps you to recall details you might have otherwise forgotten.
• Do NOT discuss the events with anyone else, including other witnesses. This may taint your recollection of the event and/or suspect.
• Cooperate fully with the investigation and be prepared to testify in court.
• Always remember that your safety and the safety of other employees or customers are far more important than the money.