Preventing a robbery is critically important to most businesses and the safety of your employees and customers is paramount. Making robbery prevention a part of your overall security strategy can help you, your employees and your business reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim of violent crime.
Burglary and theft are crimes against property, but robbery is a crime against people.
A robbery not only puts you, your employees and your customers in physical danger, but things can quickly escalate to become tragic. With proper training, all your staff will be able to keep calm and follow your security protocols to best handle potential robbery situations. In the U.S. alone, a commercial robbery is committed every four minutes.
For your own safety do not try to be a hero. We recommend these following prevention strategies that can be great deterrents to criminal behaviour.
If you can implement these robbery prevention tips, then you are one step closer to making your business safer for everyone.
1. Quick access to what is being stolen, cash, drugs, jewelry. To eliminate this quick access time lock out safes (cannot be opened between certain hours. ie when closed so staff are not brought back to location after hours from home etc.) and time delayed safes (will not open for 5, 10, 15 minutes) should be employed. Only small amounts of cash should be left in a cash register. Encourage/reward clients to use electronic payment (credit cards/ debit) so there are no funds to steal.
2. If possible dispensers should be used. Cash machine in banks. Drug dispenser in drug stores. Diamond dispenser in jewelry stores.
3. Items that are being robbed should not be kept at the counter. I.e. banks should not have funds at the counter, drug stores should not have drugs at the counter staff should need to leave the counter to go get funds/drugs. This removes control from the robber as the employee has to walk away.
4. Control of the environment. Remove the robbers control of the environment by adding cctv monitors to facilities front windows so passersby’s can see inside the store, pharmacy or bank. Have a monitor in a neighbouring store so they can see if something goes wrong in your facility and call police. Now the robber cannot control the robbery by simply locking the door as anyone walking by can see the inside of the store and would notice a masked person with a gun.
5. Anonymity. Remove this by installing CCTV cameras that record outside the facility so there is a record of the getaway vehicle or the robber arriving without a mask on. CCTV cameras that record entrances and exits and counters. Robbers normally shop before they rob. If you have a record of their fore arm tattoo, or jacket or hat, you will be able to match with the robber with the same with the masked robber.
6. Limited Access to facility and staff. I risk facilities should have access control with “people” traps/vestibules should be used if possible. Only Staff can buzz people in and out. Only one door can open at time. Staff should be behind laminated glass so they robber does not have access to staff nor can they shoot them with a weapon.
7. Verified alarm that sends live audio and video to Sonitrol who in turn forward to responding police.
8. Encourage Police to visit your facility, to use rest rooms, lunch rooms, free coffee etc. Robbers won’t try to rob you if police are always stopping by.
9. Make your facility a RISKY target for thieves. Deterrence is the best practice.
10. Report suspicious activity to police. if you think someone is watching/casing/shopping your facility, let police know immediately. Don’t approach a suspicious person let police know description of person/vehicle.
About Sonitrol Western Canada:
We're so confident in our technology and responsive service, that no one else in the industry can match our guarantee. Our unique verified audio and CCTV video business security solutions enable our operators to hear and see what is happening in your business before the criminals gain entry!! We verify the actual source of the alarm, and we get the police to attend the scene immediately. FOR A FREE SECURITY AUDIT, click here, or call 1-866-766-4876.
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Sonitrol Western Canada, with its Verified Electronic Security Systems, is committed to providing customers with the most comprehensive security protection. Cooperation in the elimination of false alarms is not only beneficial to the system’s user, but results in better protection of the entire community by allowing law enforcement to use their resources as efficiently as possible.
