What to do or NOT to do during a store robbery.
I did an article for the Charlotte City Buzz a few years ago about what NOT to do during a store robbery, after a News Channel 2, WFMY aired a report called: “A Robbery Caught On Tape In Charlotte Got Us Asking What You Should Do” by Sarah Lance.
At the time I felt I had to do the article to counter erroneous information given in that report in the form of practical advice to the public about what to do in a robbert, which if followed could help prevent you from getting shot or killed during a store robbery.
The WFMY report quotes a Capt. Steve Smith with the Burlington Police Department, who it is clear has never been robbed before – gave advice which was “questionable at best.”
GIVE THEM THE MONEY!
When I was working at Casey’s in La Crosse, Kansas, we were training a new cashier one time in cash register functions and safe drop procedures when the topic came up “of what to do if you get robbed.”
After looking at each other for a moment, I said, unequivocally to the new hire – a young lady barely 20 years of age to “give them the money – because your life is worth more than a few hundred bucks the company may lose. “You understand that right! And don’t play the hero in such situations.”
I remember later discussing this situation with Todd Churbuck, who was our assistant store manager at the time who offered some very practical advice on the topic, which I will never forget.
First things first –
DON’T STARE OR MAKE DIRECT EYE CONTACT WITH THE ROBBER!
Churbuck’s information included practical advice such as 1) “never engaging in direct eye contact with the robber“, which he said is very important.
“If you look at him he may think your trying to identify him maybe.”
“In most cases” (9 out of 10) , he said “they just want the money to go get high or something. So as soon as you give them the money they are gone out the door…”
“THIS IS A HOLD UP! GIVE ME ALL YOUR MONEY!”
Steps to follow:
1) Raise your hands up, palms facing out to about head level.
2) Take one step back away from the register and look straight down at your feet not at the robber’s face.
This is critical, so many people just stare straight at the robber like a dumb ass and they wonder why they get shot later on.
It could becomes a “conscious decision” on the part of the robber, with a gun in his hand, if he want to leave any living witnesses or not. Witnesses could come back later and testify against him in court” Churbuck said. “So all this is running through the guys head, as he is robbing your store.”
3) Give them the money.
I was like “Damn Churbuck, this is what is going on here you think, someone would kill somebody over this.
He said “Hell ya, so you have to be street smart to survive.”
I talked with law enforcement officials later on who said Churbuck’s street smart advice was absolutely correct. More insightful than most, but practical advice none the less…
I find myself now thinking back to all this whenever I hear of a convenience store clerk somewhere getting shot in a robbery, and I was reminded of all this recently after watching the News Channel 2 report on TV years later – See video: (http://www.digtriad.com/news/local/article/208702/57/What-Should-You-Do-If-Youre-Caught-In-A-Robbery).
I should say that at the time I published the article I was servery criticized by both the Burlington Police Department and some members of the public for the advice I gave, in part for daring to offer a contrary opinion to the advice in the Channel 2 report.
In looking back on the incident now I stand by my report.
I was reminded of all this recently when I was reviewing footage of recent store robberies footage in Los Angeles, California for another story (see videos http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/explore?tag=robbery).