Preventative Measure - Gamal Newry
Armed Robbery Response - tips on what to do during and after a robbery
By Gamal Newry
Dec 11, 2007 - 1:06:17 AM

Last week our discussion focused around steps to minimize the threat of armed robbery.   This week I will suggest methods to assist in you and your staff actually surviving the event.

Firstly it must be stated that no amount of money is worth the risk of personal injury or death. Victims of armed robberies commonly experience physical and emotional problems following the incident. Many of these persons subsequently experience complaints such as chronic nervousness, insomnia, nightmares and headaches, coupled with emotional disorders such as greater aggressiveness, moodiness, depression and a general distrust of others. The emotional disorders tend to last longer then the physical disorders. These disorders are more likely to occur when the victim puts up a resistance to the armed robber. These feelings and experiences are normal following a life-threatening ordeal and usually pass with time. However, professional counseling by qualified post trauma counselors should be considered. A good question to ask is if your employer includes this professional counseling service, especially those of you who work in high risk professions, such as banks, convenience and grocery stores. Counseling has been found to significantly decrease the emotional harm caused by armed robbery. With support and guidance these reactions generally pass. Indeed, such reactions enable the victim to come to terms with the event and progress to recovery.   For a proportion of employees, there reactions may be particularly severe, the recovery process may be blocked or the initial trauma may be compounded by other problems. These and even lesser problems are obviously costly to the individual as well as for the employer in terms of sick leave, impaired performance, compensation, morale and staff turnover, etc.

The Response

During an armed robbery cooperation is more prudent than intervention and

the following tactics should be adopted:

1. DO PRECISELY AS YOU ARE TOLD AND NO MORE
2. AVOID EYE CONTACT WITH THE ROBBER
3. SPEAK ONLY WHEN SPOKEN TO
4. TELL THE ROBBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE DOING
5. MAKE NO SUDDEN MOVEMENTS
6. DON'T ACTIVATE ALARMS UNLESS SAFE TO DO SO
7. TRY TO REMAIN CALM AND CONTROL EMOTIONS
8. REMEMBER AS MANY DETAILS ABOUT THE BANDIT AND THE INCIDENT.

Some things to look out for are listed below to help you;

Physical appearance : 

• age
• build
• coloring
• hair
• tattoos,
• scars,
• prominent or unusual features
• clothing

Behavior:

• speech – accents, language used
• nicknames
• actions – interaction with other offenders

Other aspects :

• weapons used
• method of escape
• vehicles used for escape
• direction of travel when escaping.

Immediately following the event

1. Call the Police First

Ensure that your staff is trained to act appropriately following an armed robbery.

Raise the alarm as soon as it is safe to do so. This may be an alarm device

activated during the incident.

Immediately telephone Police on 919 /911 , giving:

• NAME , ADDRESS OF PREMISES, AREA & LOCATION INCL. NEAREST CROSS STREETS.
• NUMBER OF OFFENDERS AND DESCRIPTION
• DESCRIPTION OF WEAPON USED
• DESCRIPTION OF VEHICLE USED AND DIRECTION OF TRAVEL

This information is important and should be provided after the offenders have left the premises, in addition to activating any alarm devices.

2. Preservation of Crime Scene : after the armed robbery the following steps

    should be observed.

• Close the premises to the public and keep out unauthorized persons. Isolate the area for later forensic examination, in particular fingerprints.

• Keep staff away from areas where the offender may have placed their hands.

• Ensure that no person interferes in any way with that part of the premises where the offender has been, or with any articles which may have been left behind, e.g. demand notes.

• Staff should independently note description for the assistance of the first police on the scene. It is important that first impressions are obtained. A complete description and the words used in the crime are desirable.

• Do not make statements to the media before discussing the matter with the   police.

• Do not comment on how much money was involved except to the police.

• Supply the police with all details even if they appear to be insignificant to you.

These recommendations are intended to assist you in surviving the encounter.   Next week we discuss the increase in fraud that also increases during this time of the year. Unlike armed robbery these incidents are less life threatening but usually cost the affected business much more financially to recover from.

Gamal Newry is President of Preventative Measures, a Security and Law Enforcement Training and Consulting Company. Comments can be sent to P.O. Box N3154 Nassau, Bahamas or Email: info@preventativemeasures.net or visit our website www.preventativemeasures.net

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