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. l 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 l 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. l 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.