This document provides guidance on surviving an armed robbery and tips from the Coeburn Police Department. It discusses options during a robbery like complying with demands and not resisting. It then gives strategies to prevent robberies like hardening targets through cash control, lighting, cameras and varied banking deposits. If robbed, witnesses should gather details to help police apprehend the criminal. Only fight back physically as a last resort if your life is threatened. Otherwise comply and be a strong witness to help the investigation.

1. SURVIVING AN ARMED ROBBERY
SPONSORED BY
COEBURN POLICE DEPT.
CREATED BY H. STALLARD 12/07
hstallard@yahoo.com

2. WHAT DO YOU DO NOW ?
DO YOU GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT ?
DO YOU RESIST?
DO YOU FIGHT BACK?
DO YOU BLOW THEM AWAY?

3. EVERY ARMED ROBBERY IS DIFFERENT…
WHAT IS RIGHT IN ONE WOULD GET YOU HURT OR KILLED IN
ANOTHER.
THERE IS NO ONE RIGHT ANSWER
THIS PRESENTATION WILL MAKE YOU AWARE OF THE OPTIONS
AVAILABLE TO YOU IN THE EVENT OF AN ARMED ROBBERY.
IT WILL SHOW YOU SOME STEPS TO HELP PREVENT AN ARMED
ROBBERY AND WHAT STEPS TO TAKE AFTER IF YOU ARE EVER
THE VICTIM OF THIS TYPE OF CRIME

4. AN ARMED ROBBERY IS …
The felonious taking of property of another
from his or her person or in his or her
immediate presence, against his or her will, by
violence or intimidation while armed with a
dangerous weapon.

5. A DANGEROUS WEAPON IS…
A dangerous weapon can be anything from a
gun, knife, baseball bat, rock, gasoline, acid,
metal pipe, or any other of a thousand
common items found almost anywhere.

6. ELEMENTS OF AN ARMED ROBBERY
ABILITY TO COMMIT THE OFFENSE
How easy is it to commit the robbery?

7. ELEMENTS OF AN ARMED ROBBERY
DESIRE TO COMMIT THE OFFENSE
Do they have an expectation of success?

8. ELEMENTS OF AN ARMED ROBBERY
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMIT THE OFFENSE
Do the benefits outweigh the risks?

9. PREVENTING AN ARMED ROBBERY
No one can say for sure that the following
strategies will prevent an armed robbery but
they may make it so difficult for the
perpetrator that they will choose to go
elsewhere.

10. STRAGETIES TO BREAK THE CRIME TRIANGLE
Ability to commit the offence
How easy is it to commit the robbery?
STRATEGY
Increase the effort required to commit the
offence…harden the target, make it so difficult
to commit the crime that they will go
somewhere else

11. HARDENING THE TARGET
Cash register or point of sale area
• The major target for criminal activity is the point
of sale area. Behind the counter is your territory
and there should be no opportunity for access
behind the counter by customers.
• Minimize the visibility of the cash drawer,
especially when it is open.
• Counters should be designed to provide as much
distance as practicable between the customer
and staff .
• Keep your front doors and windows clear of signs
and posters to allow good two way visibility.
Employees can see suspicious persons outside.
Passers-by and police can see inside.

12. HARDENING THE TARGET
Cash register or point of sale area
• Advertise outside that you keep a minimal
amount of cash in the register and that you
will not accept large bills.
• Don't keep large bills under the cash drawer. If
you don't have a safe, find a less obvious place
to hide your extra cash until you go to the
bank.
• Practice good cash control. Keep a minimum
amount in your cash drawer and make regular
drops into a safe.
• Never count cash in view of customers .

13. HARDENING THE TARGET
Opening and Closing
An analysis of crime trends clearly shows
that businesses are at greater risk of
victimization at the time of opening or
closing.
Two persons should be on hand at opening
and closing times.
At opening time, one person should enter
the store and check to see if it has been
disturbed.
Do not allow anyone into the premises after
you have closed.

14. HARDENING THE TARGET
Opening and Closing
Before closing, one person should check the
office, back rooms and rest rooms to make
sure no one is hiding inside.
Before leaving the workplace staff should
take the time to check for any suspicious
activity in the vicinity of the premises.
Keep side and back doors locked. Have
employees use the main entrance, if
possible.

15. HARDENING THE TARGET
Safes
A safe will deter, delay, and deny access to
valuable property and/or information.
However, most safes are designed to secure
money or valuable for a limited period of time
only. If an offender has sufficient time and
equipment, most safes can either be broken
into or removed. Transfer money to banking
facilities as soon as possible.

16. Safes
Consider the following …
• Time delay locks or two key opening systems.
• Use a safe that the clerk cannot open alone or
that requires two keys. Post that fact
conspicuously, including on the safe itself.
• Limiting access to safe combination/keys .
• Anchoring safe to building structure.

17. Safes
Consider the following …
• Safe with a drop slot…cash cannot be removed
after it is fed into slot.
• Securing tools which could be used on safe.
• A dye bomb which will mark the contents
inside.

18. HARDENING THE TARGET
BANK DEPOSITS
• Vary your banking routine. Carry cash in a
variety of ways - a lunch sack, attaché case,
flight bag, pocket, etc. Money bags are pretty
obvious.
• Vary the times and routes that you use to go
to the bank.
• Make deposits as often as possible, never less
than once a day.

19. HARDENING THE TARGET
BANK DEPOSITS
• Be alert for "customers" who seem to be
loitering or glancing around the store while
appearing to shop or browse through a
magazine.
• Watch for suspicious persons outside the
business - especially in parked cars and
around telephone booths.
• Call for a police escort to the bank.

20. STRAGETIES TO BREAK THE CRIME TRIANGLE
Desire to commit the offence
Do they have an expectation of success?
STRATEGY
Reduce the rewards available to the offender.
Since it’s the cash they want, limit what they
can get. If they know that there is only a
limited amount of cash they can get, they may
choose to go elsewhere.

21. REDUCING THE REWARDS AVAILABLE TO THE
OFFENDER
Limit the cash you have on hand
The less cash held on your person or on the premises, the less
attractive you are as a target. Keep under $100 on you or on
the premises if possible, especially at night. If you run a
business, advertise the fact that you keep a minimum of cash
on the premises.
Keep money where it can't be reached
Deposit money in banks or secure holding units frequently.
Use a cash drop box with a time delay lock and advertise this
with a sign if you have a business.
Keep money out of sight…Never count cash in
view of customers

22. STRAGETIES TO BREAK THE CRIME TRIANGLE
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMIT THE OFFENSE
Do the benefits outweigh the risks?
STRATEGY
Increase the risk of apprehensions
Cameras
Use a good video camera surveillance system.
There are many cameras available that vary in
quality. Pick a camera with good resolution. It
is also important to consider the lens and
ensure that it is suitable for coverage of the
target area you have chosen.

23. STRAGETIES TO BREAK THE CRIME TRIANGLE
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMIT THE OFFENSE
Do the benefits outweigh the risks?
STRATEGY
Increase the risk of apprehensions
Mirrors
Mirrors allow staff to monitor sections of the
store obscured by physical barriers. Ensure
that mirrors do NOT allow would be offenders
to see your cash handling area.

24. STRAGETIES TO BREAK THE CRIME TRIANGLE
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMIT THE OFFENSE
Do the benefits outweigh the risks?
STRATEGY
Increase the risk of apprehensions
Lighting
The principal objectives of lighting should be:
To ensure uniform coverage and brightness
through the area to eliminate dark spots that
could conceal intruders and/or criminal
activity.
To illuminate the vulnerable 'target' areas, e.g.
stairwells, regularly used pathways.

25. In spite of everything you have done, you suddenly find
yourself facing an armed robber…
Try to remain calm and control your emotions…you can be
hysterical after it’s all over.
Do precisely as you are told, and no more…don’t volunteer any
information or help.
Avoid eye contact with the robber…eye contact can be
considered as a challenge to them and escalate the
probability of violence.
Speak only when spoken to.
Tell the robber exactly what you are doing…you definitely don’t
want to startle someone with a weapon in a tense situation.

26. In spite of everything you have done, you suddenly find
yourself facing an armed robber…
Make no sudden movements that could be interpreted as an
attack against them.
Don't activate alarms unless it is safe to do so.
Try to get a good look at the robber so you can describe him
later…gather as many details as possible.
Give the robber time to leave…if you follow too closely he may
turn on you.
Note his direction of travel when he leaves.
Try to get a description of his vehicle ONLY if you can do so
without exposing yourself to harm.

27. If you believe we are peddling mere passivity as
someone takes away your hard-earned valuables,
you're quite wrong.
There are other ways to fight back besides the
'macho' way of the movies.
Remember, one should only fight back physically as
a last resort, when you feel as if your life or the life of
someone with you is, at that moment, truly in
danger.
The real reason you're complying with the robber other than self-preservation against a gun or knife is that such a manner will allow you to pay attention
to every detail of the robber and his methods,
enabling you to be a strong witness for the police.

28. BEING A STRONG WITNESS
Most robbers slip apprehension because of bad or faulty
information from witnesses or from the crime scene.
The most important thing is to gather and remember
information that might be helpful to the police.
Try to notice distinguishing traits about the thief.
Try to observe characteristics like sex, age, height, weight,
race, prominent or unusual features, and color of skin and
eyes. In addition, noting identifying characteristics such as
scars, tattoos, clothing, limps and traits of speech are all very
helpful in finding the culprits.
Note behavioral characteristics: How does this person act?
Worried, mad, confused, drunk? What was his speech like?
Did he have an accent? If others were helping, did they use
nicknames? What were the interactions with the other
offenders? Was a particular person in charge?

29. AFTER AN ARMED ROBBERY
Call the police immediately, giving: name and
address of premises you are in or near, its area and
location; number of offenders and description;
description of weapon used; description of vehicle
used and direction of travel. If on foot, in what
direction? If in a vehicle, try to get the license
number.
Close the store and lock the door(s) if you have a
key.
Do not discuss the details of the robbery with
witnesses or fellow employees.

30. AFTER AN ARMED ROBBERY
Ask any witnesses to stay until police arrive. If they
can't, get their names, phone numbers and
addresses.
Do not touch anything that the robber may have
touched. Block off areas where the robber was, if
necessary.
Try to recall as much as you can about the robber's
appearance, speech and mannerisms. Make notes.
Do not discuss the amount of money taken with
anyone other than police.

31. IF YOUR LIFE IS IN IMMEDIATE DANGER
You’ve done everything they’ve asked…you’ve
played by their rules…but they give every
indication that they intend to do you harm…
You believe at this moment your only option
for staying alive is to physically fight back.

32. IF YOUR LIFE IS IN IMMINENT DANGER
In Virginia, the use of deadly force is justified
ONLY
when your life or the life of someone else is in
immediate and imminent danger.
You must be able to prove that it was actually in
danger and not that you just thought it was.
Deadly force is that force which is intended to
cause or that carries a substantial risk of causing
death or serious bodily injury.

33. FIGHTING BACK
When fighting for your life there is only one
rule to remember…
Only the winner gets to go home !

34. • COEBURN POLICE DEPARTMENT
• 114 FRONT STREET
• 395-2111
• CHIEF SCOTT BROOKS
• sbrooks@townofcoeburn.com