Risky business: Protecting your store in the event of an armed robbery

by Katie Daniel | June 21, 2017 9:45 am

[1]By David J. Sexton
It’s a well-known fact, some careers such as aviation, firefighting, and policing, are more dangerous than others, and frequently require being prepared to handle life-threatening situations at any time.

While being a jeweller may be quite different than the aforementioned, it’s easy to forget the potential dangers retailers face every day.

Since jewellery is highly transportable and precious metals are easily traded, it’s not surprising some thieves are motivated to steal it. This is especially true when what’s gained outweighs the risk of being caught.

In fact, Jewelers Mutual has seen an increase in crimes using violence and intimidation against jewellers as an attempt for the perpetrator to control the situation. Unfortunately, these violent acts, i.e. smash-and-grabs and armed robberies in particular, are occurring in high-profile locations such as malls and at stores with above-average physical and electronic security protection, too. It’s now more important than ever to consistently observe security best practices.

Heightened safety measures are not emphasized to solely protect high-value merchandise, either. What you do and how you act during a robbery could save your life, the lives of your associates, and the lives of customers in your store during an armed robbery.

Don’t resist
As frightening as a situation may be, the best thing to do if you find yourself in an emerging armed robbery is to remain calm. Whether robbers are swinging a sledgehammer or threatening you with a firearm, keeping your composure can help reassure associates and customers to do the same.

Further, you should follow whatever instructions the perpetrator gives. Don’t make any sudden moves or gestures that could upset or surprise the robber. Ultimately, if the merchandise at your business is insured, it can be replaced. Lives, however, cannot be, and modelling response behaviour conveying co-operation and compliance is your best chance of remaining unharmed.

[2]

Don’t take matters into your own hands
After a robbery unfolds, your safest option is to co-operate, not offer any resistance, and be observant. As soon as the robbers have fled your store, make sure all access doors are immediately locked so they cannot return. Then, if anyone is injured, you can tend to them and report the crime to local law enforcement.

It’s also important to protect the scene until police arrive and begin collecting evidence. Co-operating with investigators to the best of your ability can aid
in the apprehension of suspects and the recovery of stolen merchandise.

Failing to lockdown the area and not contacting law enforcement immediately could unintentionally escalate the situation back to dangerous levels.

[3]

Educate your staff
Everyone on your team must be prepared to react should a robbery arise. This training can help minimize the resultant trauma if an associate were otherwise unprepared.

Often, before a robbery occurs, inclined burglars are likely casing your business to know where exits, cameras, and cash registers are. They will want to know the most optimal way in and out of the store, and will likely ask unusual questions. Unlike most customers, potential thieves will be watching you, and not particularly engaging with your merchandise. It is important for your employees to know the warning signs of suspicious behaviour.

Having preventative measures in place will help reduce the chance of crimes happening in the first place. This should be part of your initial employee loss prevention training and should be revisited frequently.

During training, remember to stress the importance of documenting and sharing these incidents in a suspicious persons or incident report. These logs may prove useful should an audit or Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) examination occur.

You can share your notes with local law enforcement and other jewellers in your crime prevention network. Plus, encourage them to share similar information with you as some degree of criminal surveillance precedes every robbery.

The potential for both armed and smash-and-grab robberies at jewellery stores is real and the risk is always present.  Just like a police officer checks all of his gear before going out into the field, or a pilot inspects all the instruments in the cockpit of his plane, jewellers need to review their security procedures periodically. In the end, it could help save a life.

David J. Sexton, CPCU, is vice-president of loss prevention consulting at Jewelers Mutual Insurance Co., in the United States. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Sexton serves on the Underwriters’ Laboratories’ (UL) Security Systems Council, wherehe is a corporate member of the insurance category. He also sits on the board of directors for Jewellers Vigilance Canada (JVC), and worked on the Central Station Alarm Association’s (CSAA’s) Insurance Liaison Committee that assisted in the development of the UL burglar alarm modular certificate program and revised UL standard. Comments and questions can be sent to lossprevention@jminsure.com[4].

Source URL: https://www.jewellerybusiness.com/features/risky-business-protecting-your-store-in-the-event-of-an-armed-robbery/

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