Armed Robbery and Workplace Violence Emergency Response Procedures

The next section covers averting and responding to armed robberies at the facility.  A Description of Physical Characteristic Form is provided.  The form can also be used to record characteristics of perpetrators of other types of criminal activities.

Preventing Robberies

Employees should take the following daily precautions to prevent break-ins and robberies at the facility.

• Check all security equipment.
• Do not discuss cash levels and security procedures outside of work.
• Be alert for suspicious persons loitering in or near the workplace.
• Be alert for unfamiliar or suspicious vehicles near the workplace.
• Suspicious activity should be reported to the supervisor.

Robbery in Progress

If employees encounter a robbery taking place, they should follow these procedures.

1. Remain calm and avoid any action that might incite the robber to act violently.  The robber may be nervous, and further excitement by the employee can cause the robber to panic and harm the employee or bystanders.
2. Obey the robber’s instructions, even if it appears that employees cannot be harmed.  Money and property are not worth the price of a life.
3. Activate the Security Emergency Icon (located on desktop of computer) at a safe time, or when the robber is leaving.  Do not let the robber see the icon being pressed; it may further incite the robber to violence.

After the Robbery

Immediately after the robbery, employees will be checked for possible injuries.  Once that has been established, follow these steps:

1. Immediately call the local police department.
2. Close and secure the office until the police arrive.  This procedure will help preserve the scene of the crime for fingerprints and other physical evidence.
3. Preserve any notes that the robber may have written, such as a request for money/valuables.
4. Each employee involved in the incident should write down his/her own description of the robber and events and should complete the Physical Characteristics Form that is supplied.  Employees should not confer with other witnesses or compare notes.

Workplace Violence

All employees are entitled to a safe and violence-free workplace.  If an employee knows of a potential concern or need to report an incident, he/she should contact his/her supervisor or human resources staff at: extension 3126 or 3127.

Description of Physical Characteristics Form

Please record as many details for each category as possible:

Do not discuss any details of the event until the police are through taking statements from you and your co-workers.  Thank you for your cooperation.