Employees usually assume an armed robbery will always involve a weapon such as gun or a knife being displayed however that is not necessarily always true.  Any device can be used to intimidate an employee to gain compliance. In this article an unconventional type weapon, a syringe allegedly filled with HIV blood was used to rob a pharmacy of prescription drugs. It is essential for employees to always comply even if the weapon of opportunity is questionable.  If faced with a scenario such as this always assume what the suspect says is true. In this particular case assume the syringe held by the suspect is in fact filled with HIV blood. An employee will never be criticized by an employer for complying and errorring on the side of caution.

News article:

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2012/05/02/man-charged-with-robbing-pharmacy-with-syringe/

These two recent news articles clearly show that any cash business is at risk of being robbed regardless of size.

The first article relates to a Wal-Mart manager who was tragically shot and killed in a botched early morning robbery in Phoenix last week. The family is now questioning the company’s security measures.

Walmart manager killed during robbery; family has questions for company

By Crystal Cruz and Ryan O’Donnell

PHOENIX — Phoenix police are looking for a man who robbed some Walmart store employees and then shot and killed an assistant manager.

It happened just after midnight Saturday morning at the Walmart near 75th Avenue and McDowell Road.

Police spokesman Sgt. Tommy Thompson said two employees were collecting cash from the store’s registers and placing it in a shopping cart when a man with a handgun came up and told them he was robbing them. The gunman grabbed the cart and began pushing it out of the store as other employees were alerted to the robbery.

Thompson says support manager Peter Marquez, 47, was outside with another employee and they ran to the front doors. As they approached the robber, the unidentified man shot Marquez, who would have turned 48 Sunday. The gunman fled the scene and escaped into a nearby neighborhood which has several abandoned homes.

Read more…

The second article describes a gun-wielding robber who terrorized beauty salons across the Bronx robbing employees and customers of money and valuables.

Gun-wielding robber terrorizes Bronx beauty salons in  Longwood, Fordham and Pelham Parkway

Small beauty shops keeping doors locked after armed robber hit three shops last month
By Kerry Wills / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

An armed bandit struck three times last month at small beauty shops around the Bronx, waving a huge handgun and demanding cash and valuables.

A few minutes felt like eternity for hair stylists Marie Gama and Mariam Cisse when the thief burst into Marie African Hair Braiding on Southern Blvd. March 11 and shouted, “Money! Money! Money!”

“He told us to give him money, and if we didn’t give him money, he was going to shoot us,” Gama recalled as she braided a customer’s hair last week.

The robber confronted the women, pointing a large, black semi-automatic pistol in all directions. Gama, the 32-year-old manager, said she handed him the day’s take, but the thief wanted more. He again threatened to shoot them unless they forked over all they had. He rifled through the purses of everyone present — three hairdressers and two customers — and got away with three cellphones and more than $1,000 cash, Gama said.

Read more…

The businesses robbed in each article are at opposite ends of the spectrum. One is an international retail chain and the others are small independent businesses.

Regardless of size every business has both a moral and legal responsibility to protect their employees. Owners and management need to be proactive and implement security measures to deter robberies from occurring and also be responsible to train their employees how to properly manage an armed robbery situation if one occurs.  Being reactive after a robbery has taken place and implementing safe guards after employees have been terrorized,injured or killed is not acceptable.  Thinking that a robbery will never happen in your business is both naïve and negligent. Robbers are motivated by the immediate access and availability to cash so every cash business is at risk. It is important to be proactive in identifying your robbery security and training needs, to ensure you protect your employees from injury or death.

The article below describes a recent violent bank robbery in Toronto.  The incident was a “wild west” type robbery where two culprits fired a warning shot into the ceiling during which time 8-10 customers and employees were in the bank. A serious incident like this emphasizes the importance to have employees properly trained in Armed Robbery Response Training.

Two suspects sought in violent west-end bank robbery
Charlene Close and 680News staff

TORONTO, Ont. – Toronto police have released security camera images of two men wanted in connection with a violent bank robbery at the Bank of Montreal branch in the city’s west end in in February.

The robbery took place after the noon hour on Feb. 23 at the bank’s branch on Lakeshore Boulevard West, near Park Lawn Road.

At the time, there were 8-10 customers and bank employees in the bank when the two men showed up. Police said a warning shot was fired into the ceiling and bank customers were forced onto the floor.

Toronto police Staff Insp. Mike Earl said it’s not often a bank robber actually fires a gun.

Read more…

The FBI recently launched their Bandit Shield Program in Texas to prevent bank robberies and when you review the stats, something is definitely needed.  In 2010 alone, 90 people were taken hostage and 16 killed during 5,546 robberies. Bank robbers also stole over $44 million in cash.

Cybercops and robbers: Digital posses to bust bank bandits
Written By Allison Barrie

Bank robbers lost their cool when six-guns went out of style, but they’re still just as dangerous: In 2010 alone, 90 people were taken hostage and 16 killed during 5,546 bank robberies. Bank robbers also stole over $44 million in loot — of which only $8 million or so was recovered.

Banks maintain a range of security measures, including surveillance cameras, guards and dye packs. But the latest weapon may finally stop robbers in their tracks: a cyberposse of crime-fighting citizens.

The FBI’s Bandit Shield initiative is meant to prevent bank robberies and assist local, state and federal law enforcement agencies with investigations. Launched Jan. 30 in San Antonio, Texas, it is currently a pilot program that the FBI is considering taking national.

Bandit Shield was developed after FBI agents in South Texas spent a year studying apprehended bank robbers, bank security officials, and local detectives who were involved in robberies throughout the U.S. From that analysis, agents devised a “best practice” methodology to help deter robberies, make banks unattractive targets and assist in quickly collaring crooks.

Read more…

http://www.torontosun.com/2012/01/13/hunt-on-for-bank-heist-madman

This news article and video shows a recent brazen bank robbery in Toronto, Ontario where the culprit disguised in a grandfather type Halloween mask discharged a single shot off in the bank after the teller wasn’t quick enough fulfilling the robbers demands. The media dubbed the robber a “madman” which is a good description for an individual who has shown a complete disregard for employee and customer safety.  This violent type of robbery is a contrast to the typical non-violent ”note passer” robber that routinely robs financial institutions.  Unfortunately this incident shows it is important for employees working in banks and credit unions not to be complacent in thinking that robbers will not resort to violent actions to obtain cash.  The reality is that desperate people will sometimes resort to desperate means. Providing armed robbery response training to employees can help reduce the risk in a robbery situation.

This news article and video shows a recent brazen bank robbery in Toronto, Ontario where the culprit disguised in a grandfather type Halloween mask discharged a single shot off in the bank after the teller wasn’t quick enough fulfilling the robber’s demands. The media dubbed the robber a “madman” which is a good description for an individual who has shown complete disregard for employee and customer safety.  This violent type of robbery is a contrast to the typical non-violent ‘note passer’ robber that routinely robs financial institutions.  Unfortunately this incident shows it is important for employees working in banks and credit unions not to be complacent in thinking that robbers will not resort to violent actions to obtain cash.  The reality is that desperate people will sometimes resort to desperate means. Providing armed robbery response training to employees can help reduce the risk in a robbery situation.

Hunt on for bank heist ‘madman’

By Terry Davidson ,Toronto Sun

TORONTO - A brazen bank heist in Scarborough and the subsequent laundering of marked bills at a car wash has Toronto Police on the hunt for a dangerous “two-faced bandit.”

A hooded man wearing a dark winter coat and donning a “grandfather-type” Halloween mask drew a gun after entering a bank on Steeles Ave. E. near Kennedy Rd. on Oct. 7, police said.

Hold up squad Staff-Insp. Mike Earl called the bandit a “madman” and described how the suspect frenetically went from teller to teller, wildly brandishing a handgun and “screaming” before throwing a dark knapsack on the counter and demanding it be filled with bills.

In one shot, the bandit is seen – gun in hand – shoulder-to-shoulder with a customer standing at a teller’s wicket.  Read more…

This article outlines the serious truck hijacking issue in Mexico and puts in perspective the challenges faced by North American trucking companies that are required to operate and transport goods to the 18,000 US companies operating in Mexico.  It is estimated that in 2010 there were approximately 10,000 truck hijackings in Mexico (that is an average of 27 per day) with between 65-100% of those truck hijackings involving armed culprits.  As a result of these fearful statistics, trucking companies have resorted to armed convoy escorts for high value loads, GPS tracking and other security measures to ensure safe delivery of goods.  There is no silver bullet solution in how to reduce Mexico’s truck hijacking issue but these statistics show that US truck drivers operating in Mexico definitely require training in how to properly manage a truck hijacking and stay safe.  Transported goods can be replaced but a truck driver’s life can not.

Despite the danger, U.S. companies can’t afford to ignore Mexico, Memphis World Trade Club told

By Wayne Risher

Cautionary tales of truck hijackings and drug war crossfires left Nick Whitten more than a little uneasy about future business trips to Mexico.

The Cornerstone Systems salesman’s takeaway from a Memphis World Trade Club presentation Tuesday on logistics and trucking in Mexico?

“It kind of sounded like they were trying to talk you out of doing business there,” he said.

The association of transportation, warehousing, freight forwarding and other trade professionals also heard Tuesday from Tom Kaden, vice president at Mallory Alexander International Logistics, and Roy Delao, vice president international at United Warehouse and Terminal Logistics.  Read more…

These two recent truck hijackings illustrate that the issue is truly a global phenomenon and that there is an underground market for any product being transported.  Unfortunately any company or driver transporting a high-value load can be at risk.  Trucking companies can help minimize liability issues relating to truck hijacking robberies by teaching their drivers how to properly manage a truck hijacking situation by providing truck hijacking training.

Bolingbrook police investigate recent truck hijacking-kidnapping

http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/bolingbrook/newsnow/x1761815027/Bolingbrook-police-investigate-recent-truck-hijacking-kidnapping

Tanker hijacked

http://www.tempo.com.ph/2011/tanker-hijacked/

These three recent tragic news incidents have all occurred in the past eight days; each resulting in an innocent employee losing their life in a commercial armed robbery.  Unfortunately, armed robberies can occur at any business location that deals with money, valuable goods or prescription narcotics.  High risk businesses that operate late, open 24 hours or are situated in isolated areas are more susceptible to a robbery occurring.  The actions of an armed robbery culprit with a substance abuse issue can be both desperate and unpredictable.  A robber’s violent actions can result in serious injury or death to employees.  Employers have both a moral and legal obligation to protect their employees from being injured in a robbery incident by implementing both the proper safety equipment and training. Proper security equipment can help deter an armed robbery from occurring and training can assist with providing employees with the necessary knowledge of how to properly manage an armed robbery situation should one occur.

Jeweler Killed in Apparent Robbery

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Westport-Jeweler-Maker-Killed-in-Apparent-Robbery-135311333.html

Gas Station Owner Murdered in Chester, Suspect Loose

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/crime&id=8460760

Robbers Shoot Clerk to Death in Family Store

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201112010345/NEWS01/112010345

A robbery can be a very stressful experience and you never know how you are going to react until you are placed in that situation. I never want to play ‘arm chair quarterback’ and second guess a victim’s actions in a robbery, however, I do believe the linked article clearly shows both the need and the importance of providing armed robbery response training to employees, so that they can properly manage an armed robbery situation and recognize the types of resistance. In this article a robber armed with a handgun entered a pharmacy, displayed the gun and made a demand for oxycontin.  The employees ignored the robber’s demands and hid behind the counter. The robber fled the pharmacy empty handed. The sudden and unexpected movements of the employees (hiding behind the counter) could be considered by the robber to be “passive resistance” and could have resulted in the robber escalating his level of force and possibly discharging his firearm resulting in an injury or death to an employee. Passive resistance can be as dangerous as “physical resistance” and employees need to have an understanding of both. Armed Robbery Response Training can provide employees with the knowledge to help keep them safe in the workplace.

Armed Robber Leaves Pharmacy Empty-Handed

By GREG WELTER -Staff Report

CHICO — An armed man reportedly seeking Oxycontin and other painkillers fled from the Walgreen’s store at 860 East Ave. on Thursday night, after pharmacy staff refused to provide him with the pills.

The suspect entered the store just after 6 p.m. and brandished a firearm at the pharmacy counter.

An employee called Chico police to report a robbery in progress, and officers arrived within two minutes, a press release stated.

The would-be robber fled immediately after employees ducked behind a counter and ignored his demands, according to police.

Read more…