Excerpted from the “Encyclopedia of Pre-written Personnel Policies”, copyright Business & Legal Reports, Inc. Old Saybrook, CT (http://www.blr.com or 1-800-7-ASK-BLR).
Below are instructions for handling a robbery. You should periodically review these emergency procedures with employees.
Instructions for keeping yourself, employees and guests safe in the event of a robbery:
- Stay calm.
- Do not resist. Do nothing that will put you or others at risk.
- Weapons are not permitted on company property.
- Do not argue.
- Obey the robber’s orders.
- Let the robber know that you intend to obey.
- If you are not sure of what the robber is telling you to do, ask.
- Give the robber the money.
- Do not make any sudden moves.
- If you must reach for something or move, tell the robber what to expect.
- Do nothing that will agitate, threaten, surprise, or startle the robber.
- Do not chase or follow the robber. (This includes people who walk out on checks.)
- Focus on remembering details about the individual:
- Hair color
- Height
- Weight
- Voice
- Age
- Clothing
- Distinguishing marks, i.e., tattoos, scars
- Noticeable traits, i.e., limp, accent, glasses, left- or right-handed
- What did he or she touch, so you can preserve it for fingerprints?
- Do not touch anything that may have fingerprints
- Call the police.
- Do not hang up until they tell you to do so
- Keep police and other emergency numbers on or near the telephone
- Set the alarm.