Robbery Actions, Reactions, and Coping Skills

Prepared by: Alka Mehta Nationally, robberies of financial institutions Key Concepts of Different Types of Robbery constitute only 2 percent of all robberies. A credit Robbery is unpredictable. However, knowing union may go for years without an incident. But certain trends and robbery types helps prepare your when it does happen, robbery is a frightening and credit union. Statistics show the average offender is dangerous experience. This course equips you with male, but a small percentage is female. More branch information to help prepare you in the event a office robberies occur at mid morning and mid robbery does occur at your credit union. afternoon. According to the department of Justice, the number of robberies where a note was used is Objectives equal to the times the robber only used a verbal demand. • Understand the characteristics of a robbery; • Identify the key concepts in a robbery situation; The Note Robbery • Implement proper procedures in a robbery Fortunately, the most common robbery, the situation; note robbery, uses the least amount of physical • Know the importance of witness intimidation. The traditional robber works alone and identification; approaches a lone teller. He is usually unarmed but • Perform proper procedures following a may carry a knife or gun, either openly or concealed. robbery situation; and He may claim he’s carrying a bomb. He asks for • Understand post-traumatic stress disorder. money or displays a note. The note is usually prepared just before the attempt and is typically written in block printing on something like the Characteristics back of a deposit slip. The note might read, “Give of a Robbery me $20,000. Don’t say anything and no one will be Robbery is “the taking of anything of value hurt!!” by actual or threatened force or violence.” While the note robbery is the most common Regardless of an actual or attempted robbery, type of robbery at financial institutions, takeover the experience puts the victim in fear. You will robberies, morning glory robberies, and closing-time never know if and when a robbery will occur. But robberies can also occur. understanding the characteristics of a robbery, and learning some general guidelines to follow, will help you cope in a robbery situation.

The Takeover Robbery Assessing Your Risk A takeover robbery is committed by one or more The Physical Environment perpetrators, often armed, who take over the There are several physical characteristics that can lobby and demand money. The robbers are usually make one credit union more vulnerable to robbery professional thieves working in teams. Robbers than others include: may be highly aggressive and intimidating. The 1. Credit unions in stand-alone buildings; robbers may require that you do not look at them 2.Those in well-populated areas with numerous and they may take a hostage. The movie clip in financial institutions; the course offers an example of a hostile takeover 3. Those in high crime areas; and robbery 4. Credit unions near good escape routes, such as an interstate highway. The Morning Glory Robbery While it’s important to identify vulnerabilities, The morning glory robbery occurs as an it is also important to recognize security. Robbers employee, upon arrival, opens the credit union tend to avoid credit unions inside sponsor buildings, for the business day. The robber takes the office buildings, enclosed malls, and other employee-hostage inside and demands money. The structures that often have their own security. This is number of morning glory robberies is small, but true especially if the credit union is located on an significant. To protect employees and members, upper floor. A study of Chicago financial institution two employees should share the responsibility for robberies found that robbers devote most of their opening the credit union whenever possible. planning to devising an escape route.

The Closing Time Robbery Activities Outside the Credit Union In the closing-time robbery, a robber hides Be aware of activities outside the credit union. somewhere inside the credit union at the end of It’s good practice to walk the property from time the business day, or pretends to be a last minute to time. Robbers usually scope the credit union member. After the doors are closed for the day, the grounds before hand. By being alert to all your robber demands money from the closing staff. surroundings, you can prevent a robbery. It is important to be extra careful during the • Keep doors and windows clear of opening and closing procedures. obstructions. For example, don’t hang posters or advertisements where they may block your view. You need to see out and the police will need to see in. Windows should be large

enough, and the interior bright enough, to For your bait money packet to be effective, offer the police and public a clear view of each bill’s denomination, issuing Federal a credit union’s interior. The area behind Reserve Bank, series, and serial number must the tellers’ counter should not be visible. be recorded. The records should be kept in a The lobby should be kept clear of plantings, locked file away from other currency and bait sculptures, or other obstructions that prevent money. employees from observing the area. Also, • A dye pack is a packet of bills equipped with a outside landscaping or other objects should mechanism that releases a cloud of red vapor, not provide “hiding places” for robbers. plus optional tear gas, and a burst of red dye. • Know where the cameras are located and how This stains the money and often the robber, to operate them. making him conspicuous and identifiable in • Always keep bait money in your cash drawer. his escape. The pack does not “explode” as is Bait money is a packet of identifiable bills commonly believed. The pack rests on a metal placed in each teller’s drawer and accounted plate in the teller drawer until passed to the for in the cash reserve fund. It is often kept robber. When the robber exits, an electronic in the metal clip that triggers the silent scanner in the doorway triggers the dye pack alarm so authorities know money is being mechanism. About 10 seconds later, the passed to a robber. Also, a small tracking mechanism goes off with a loud report, but device can be attached to help police follow there’s no explosion that could hurt someone the progress of the money. holding the pack. The robber is often forced to abandon the money because of the identifying stains he may carry on his clothing and skin. • Finally, keep the minimum amount in your drawer. Setup a second drawer for bundled cash or return extra money to the vault. The second drawer is always kept locked. So, if you do get robbed you will be handing out less cash.

Activities Inside the Credit Union You can prevent and prepare before any potential During a Robbery robbery by being involved and aware of the A robbery is a frightening experience. A common activities inside your credit union. response to robbery is fear, nervousness, and • Develop a robbery response plan for your confusion. Your main goal during the robbery is team. For example, any tellers present during surviving. Anything else is secondary. Money can be a robbery might be tasked with assuring the replaced but not the human lives of you and your alarms are activated. Or, any loan officers members. present can lock down the credit union after During a robbery, remember that: a robbery to secure the scene. • Your highest priority is to keep yourself and • When someone walks in, look up and everyone else in the credit union free from acknowledge them immediately. All guests in harm. Don’t ever feel that you have to be a your credit union, and any potential robbers, hero. It’s important to stay safe. will know you are aware of them. • Use your judgment and follow the response • Be observant of members. Robbers look procedures in place at your credit union. for the employee who is least likely to • Take threats seriously. Always assume the identify them. Focus beyond the technical robber is armed, even if you don’t see a aspect of the transaction. Make eye contact weapon. To minimize risk, keep in mind that with members and make mental notes of once the robbery starts, your job is to get them their attire and physical characteristics. out as soon as possible. If the whole team engages in observation w • Stay calm. If you get upset, you will only techniques, it sends deterrent signals to the provoke the robber. Remember, he might be as potential robber who now knows he can be scared as you are. identified by several employees. That might scare him off completely! • Try to learn the names of the regular Stay Cautious and Smart members. Making efforts to know your Use common sense during a robbery. Remain alert members by sight is not only excellent and attentive, but cooperate with the robber to member service, it also increases your reduce risk. sensitivity to unfamiliar visitors in your • Do exactly what the robber says. If he only credit union. wants 20s, don’t deviate from his request. • Don’t make sudden movements that will make the robber think you are pressing the alarm. Explain your actions as you move. Say things

like, “I am going to get a bag from the • Observe clothing and shoes. What color bottom drawer.” clothes or jacket is he wearing? Pay special • Activate alarms and cameras only when it’s attention to shoes. He may take off his safe to do so. That may not be until the jacket when he leaves but he probably robber leaves the credit union. While it is won’t change his shoes. helpful to get a picture of the robber, it is more important for you to be safe. If you Other Defining Clues do go for the alarm use the whole body You’ve done your best noting the robber’s movement – don’t just reach over because physical characteristics. This may have been made that’s what the robber expects. difficult by disguises and your location during • Retain anything that could be used as the robbery. Other observations you make during evidence, only if safe to do so. a robbery can be helpful in your identification statement. Witness Identification • Notice any weapons. You may not know One area where you have a lot of control during a much about weapons but describing the robbery is in making an identification. It is helpful color and size can help law enforcement to be observant, but it is important to observe narrow down the possibilities. the robber with caution. When it is safe to look, • Observe the escape. Which exit did the try noting a distinguishing characteristic that robber use? Is the robber escaping on foot, may help in capturing and convicting the robber. A or did you hear a getaway vehicle? If you distinguishing characteristic is something that is are in a position to, notice as much of the unique or distinctive to that individual such as a license plate as you can, plus the color, mole, tattoo, or a limp. Try to gauge his age using make and model of the vehicle. In which facial, vocal, and physical cues. direction did he run or drive? • Recall everything the robber touches, such Distinguishing Characteristics as the robbery note or countertops. This • Observe the robber. Observe the more static may be useful in retrieving finger prints. characteristics such as skin color, build, and height. When you are under stress it’s easy to focus on one detail and forget everything else. Robbers rely on that. They may wear hats, sunglasses, or a false beard to disguise traits. • Look at the torso and where it hits the counter. That will give you some idea of height. Compare height and build with someone you know in the credit union. • Look at the hands. Is he wearing any gloves or special rings? Are there any scars or tattoos?

After a Robbery Immediately following the robbery, once the 2. Activate Alarm Assure the alarm is activated. If an alarm was danger is gone, implement your credit union’s activated during the robbery, reactivate it to assure robbery response plan. Having this in place helps law enforcement is alerted. secure the scene and keep the team in control of the situation. 3. Secure the Area An employee should lock the doors and post a temporary closed sign. Employees should also lock-up Key Steps to Take After a Robbery their drawers and valuables.

1. Alert Coworkers 4. Collect Witness Contacts Inform your co-workers that you were robbed so Collect the names and addresses of all those employees will assume their response plan roles. present.

5. Preserve the Scene Block off the robbery area and touch as few items as possible. This helps preserve the scene and potential evidence.

6. Witness Descriptions Without discussing the robbery, escort the victim teller or tellers to a private office and ask each of them to complete the Witness Description Form.

10 The After-Effects of a Robbery In addition to preparing a robbery response plan, post-robbery procedures should include measures to prevent Post-traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. 7. Alert the Authorities PTSD is a condition in which victims or witnesses Call the police. Give your name, the credit union suffer from anxiety long after a crime or tragedy name and address, directions, time of the robbery occurs. and a description of the robber and his escape. The Traumatic stress need not be confined to the people first responders to a robbery will be from your local directly involved in a robbery. Loved ones or those law enforcement, usually the police. The FBI may join present elsewhere in the building may also experience the case and work with the police. symptoms. Symptoms of PTSD are emotional flatness, a sense 8. Maintain Calm of being on “autopilot“, anger, fearfulness, sleep Keep members and employees calm. Refrain problems, body pains and strained relations. from discussing the experience until each witness completes their own robber description form. If a How to prevent PTSD member must leave, record their contact information. Offering immediate attention to victims and All these response tasks are equally important and witnesses after a robbery is crucial for preventing should be performed simultaneously by the members PTSD. of your response team. Having a robbery response You can do several things to prevent PTSD. plan in place promotes an orderly and efficient • Be supportive. approach to a traumatic experience. • Allow the victims to be involved immediately after the robbery. • Give each victim time to tell his or her story and share feelings. • Provide someone to listen and assist if needed. • Schedule a staff meeting within 48 hours.

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Summary Although robberies are not inevitable, understanding and preparing for a robbery experience is your best defense. We hope this course provides you and your credit union a foundation for responding to the three stages of a robbery. Although you may never have to experience this traumatic event, we hope that by completing this course you will have a better idea of what to do in the event that you are part of one.

Final Exam To register for the Final Exam go to: Training.cuna.org and click on CPDOnline under LOG IN on the left hand side of the screen.