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Be
Observant
- Employees and employers should remain alert
and observant.
- Several things to watch for:
- Suspicious persons or vehicles around
the business, especially at opening and closing time.
- People wearing inappropriate clothing
for the weather.
- Have regular safety meetings to develop and
discuss your "plan". Some of the elements of a good plan include:
- Employee demeanor during a robbery (do
not resist)
- How to notify the police
- An escape route
- How to obtain a suspect description
- How to obtain a vehicle description
- Have prearranged signals between
employees
- How to activate alarms
- When not to activate an alarm
Physical Deterrents
Keep the inside of your business well lighted, especially the entrances and
exits.
The cash register should be visible from outside the store. A
clear view to the register from the street or parking lot assists police
officers to see inside as they patrol the area. If the windows are blocked they
can not see in.
Mark the edge of the main doorway with measuring
tape. This will help in obtaining a more accurate height of the robber.
Keep cash at a minimum, and post notices in the doorway of this fact.
Consider the installation of video cameras or alarm systems.
Bank Deposit Procedures
Do not advertise that you are carrying
the bank deposit.
Avoid wearing name tags or clothing advertising
your business when you are carrying the deposit.
Make deposits during
the daylight hours.
Go directly to the bank. Do not make other stops
along the way. Do not take the same route to the bank each time you go and do
not go at the same time each day.
- Two employees should make the deposit
- Never leave a deposit unattended in the
vehicle
- Keep doors of the vehicle locked when
carrying deposits
- Be alert to any vehicle that may be
following you to the bank
- Conceal the cash when transferring it from
the vehicle to the bank. Don't carry a money bag in view of anyone
Opening and Closing Procedures
Two employees should open and close the business.
Before opening
the business, one employee should check outside areas for possible break-ins.
Also look to see that there are no suspicious persons hanging around. Garbage
dumpsters are prime places where robbers hide, awaiting your arrival. Also note
suspicious vehicles.
When closing, check all areas inside for
possible persons hiding in the business. Keep a spare key in a prearranged
room, in case an employee is locked inside after a robbery.
Keep a phone
hidden for such an emergency.
Do not admit customers after store
hours.
Keep the telephone number of your police department near the
phone.
Be aware that sometimes merchants are followed back to their
businesses or to their homes by robbers. Certain safety precautions should be
followed regarding vehicles and home safety. Do not always travel the same
routes to and from work. Be observant and check often to see if you are
followed.
Know where police stations and fire stations are in your
area. These locations are places of safety should you suspect that you are
being followed.
Write down the license plate number of any suspicious
vehicles. It is better to throw it away because you don't need it, than to wish
you had it. |
These tips have been reprinted with permission from
Houston Police Online.
For more information and more
tips, please visit
HPD's Crime Prevention section. |
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