Business Robbery
It is important the place where you work and conduct business is a safe and happy environment for both employees and customers.
Please follow our simple advice on business security. For further information you can also contact your local officers on 0345 113 5000.
Tips to prevent a robbery
- Don't keep large amounts of cash in the till
- Don't count cash in view of customers
- Don't open or close the store alone
- Don't block the staff’s view of the street with window displays
- Do display stickers saying ‘only a small amount of cash is kept in the till’ (available from your local police)
- Do lock the door before removing the cash drawer or box
- Do vary the times and routes of your banking routine
- Do look out for anyone acting suspiciously
- Never walk the streets with takings, even for a short distance, especially if it is obvious what you are carrying
Design out crime
Robbers look out for easy targets. Carefully consider the layout of your store – could you make it harder for a potential robber?
- Access – consider installing bollards so thieves cannot drive up to your premises
- Lighting – make sure your outside lighting is adequate as unlit areas can provide hiding places for thieves
- Locks – make sure your window and door locks meet British Safety Standards and the frames are in good repair, as required by your insurance company
- See your customers – fit low-level aisles so your staff can see customers at all times. Use mirrors to reduce blind spots
- Till position – consider your till position carefully. If it is too far back it will not be visible from outside the shop but too near the door may attract robbers wanting to make a quick getaway
- Safe – invest in a time-delayed opening safe and display signage highlighting that access to cash in your safe is controlled by time delay
- Dye packs – consider using cash staining equipment for money in the till
Manage your CCTV System
CCTV can be used to deter criminals and to record crime if it happens. It is an extremely useful and powerful tool for the police and has assisted in the prevention and detection of many crimes.
- Clean the camera lens and recording equipment regularly
- Maintain your CCTV systems using a recognised engineer
- Store all recording equipment and in a locked cabinet so a thief cannot remove evidence during an attack
- CCTV - regularly maintain your CCTV system and have in place a policy for managing and changing recordings
- Keep a digital image for 31 days before recording over it
- Check that time and date settings are correct. Not only will this avoid confusion as to when the incident occurred, it will also help prevent the defendant challenging the recorded evidence in court
- Display signs to warn the public they are being recorded
- Direct a camera towards the till from a doorway so you get a clear head and shoulders image of everyone leaving your premises
- Backlight your cameras if they point at doorways to limit the effects of the sun shining through doors and avoid recording a silhouette image
If you become a victim
- When safe to do so, look outside for the exit route and method of escape used by the offender
- Dial 999 and ask for the police. If someone is hurt, ask for an ambulance too
- Lock up the shop and only let the police in
- Keep customers and any witnesses on the premises as they may have seen something you did not. If they are determined to leave, politely ask if you can take their names and addresses before they go
- Never compare descriptions or discuss what happened before the police arrive
- Avoid touching anything
- Wait until police arrive before trying to find out how much they stole
- Preserve anything the robber left behind
- Write down everything that happened as soon as possible or you will soon forget something important
If you would like any crime prevention advice then please contact your crime prevention officer on 0345 113 5000