Robbery/Carjacking

Here are some basics tips to help prevent you from becoming a victim of robbery or carjacking. Remember, this is professional advice only. These tips are in NO way a guarantee that you will never become a victim. This is merely advice to help you protect yourself! Personal robbery prevention can be summed up by a list of common sense tips. These suggestions may seem simplistic but they work!

---

TIPS FOR HOME:

• Do not allow strangers into your home, even if they are hurt or say they need help. Keep the door locked and call the police for them.
• Do not advertise that you live alone.
• Don't be afraid to call the police to investigate suspicious circumstances, unusual people or strange noises. It is better to be safe then sorry.
• When you move into a new home or apartment, change the locks if you own it or ask the manager.
• Keep your curtains or shades closed at night.
• Don't leave notes on your door announcing when you will be home.
• Keep outdoor lights on at night.
• Never give information to an unknown caller. Report nuisance calls to the police and the telephone company.
• Keep your doors and windows locked. If it is warm and you leave your door open for circulation, keep the screen door locked.
• If you arrive home and your door is open or things appear to be out of place - don't go in your home. Leave and call the police.
• Write down license numbers of suspicious vehicles to give to the police, if necessary.
• If you are the victim of a robbery follow the instructions of the robber.
• Do not argue or attempt to fight with your assailant.
• Try to remember what the robber looks like, what he/she was wearing and call the police as quickly as possible.

---

---

TIPS FOR THE ROAD:

• Stay tuned in to your surroundings. Being aware of what is happening around you.
• Walk briskly and confidently. Give an appearance of "don’t mess with me".
• Avoid going to ATM machines after dark.
• When you are traveling on foot or in your car stay tuned in to your surroundings. If you sense something wrong leave the area immediately.
• Don’t flash large sums of cash, jewelry or other expensive items. They attract unwanted attention and may give a potential robber his target.
• Valuables should be kept in the trunk, locked glove compartment, or out of sight whenever traveling or leaving a vehicle parked.
• Travel in groups to and from clubs. Avoid isolated areas, short cuts and deserted parking lots.
• If you have to use isolated areas, such as when you leave work late, have someone walk with you to your car. This applies to men and to women alike. Anyone can be the victim of a robbery.
• If you see someone suspicious, walk away. Go to an area where there are other people, bright lights or a telephone. Don’t be afraid to call the police if you suspect you are being followed. It could be the prelude to a robbery.
• If you are the victim of a robbery follow the instructions of the robber.
• Do not argue or attempt to fight with your assailant.
• Try to remember what the robber looks like, what he/she was wearing and call the police as quickly as possible.
• Keep doors locked and windows up when driving, and when parked.
• Stay alert and aware of your surroundings, especially at intersections and stop lights.
• Park in areas that will be well lit when you return. Avoid parking near dumpsters, woods, large vans or trucks, or anything else that limits your visibility.
• There is safety in numbers! Walk with friends or a in a group.
• If you are being followed, don't drive home or get out. Drive to the nearest police station, open store or business for help. Try to note the license number and description of the car and persons following you.
• Don't advertise. If you are out at night, don't wear expensive or fancy looking jewelry. This is an invitation to trouble.
• When coming to a stop, leave enough room to maneuver around other cars, especially if you sense trouble and need to get away.
• Always keep your car well maintained, and make sure you have plenty of gas.
• If someone tries to get in your car while you are stopped - drive away quickly.
• When using valet parking, provide the parking clerk with the valet key that most car manufacturers provide now. This prevents strangers from looking in your glove compartment and trunk and finding personal information.
• Know your destination and have a planned route of travel.
• Always be alert and aware of what is around you.
• If you see someone on the road who indicates they need help, it is best to call the police when you get to the nearest telephone.
• If your vehicle is bumped from behind, do not stop on the roadway or shoulder. Drive to the nearest t public area and call for police assistance.
• If someone suspicious approaches your vehicle at a red light or stop sign, blow the horn.
• Do not pull over for flashing headlights. An emergency or police vehicle has red or red & blue flashing lights.
• If you become lost, find a public place, like a service station, to read your map or ask for directions.
• If you are told that something wrong with your vehicle, do not stop immediately. Drive to the nearest service station or another well-lighted public area.
• Check the interior of your vehicle and surrounding areas before entering your vehicle.
• Do not pick up hitchhikers.
• If using an automatic teller machine, be sure the area is well lit. Count your money inside your locked vehicle with the windows up.
• Approach your car with the key in hand. Look around and inside the car before getting in.

---

---

TIPS FOR WORK:

• Keep your front doors and windows clear of signs and posters to allow good, two way visibility. Employees can see suspicious persons outside. Passers-by and police can see inside.
• Keep the outside of your business well lit at night.
• Make sure your cash register area is clearly visible to outside observers.
• Practice good cash control. Keep a minimum amount in your cash drawer and make regular drops into a safe.
• Advertise outside that you keep a minimal amount of cash in the register and that you will not accept large bills.
• Don't keep large bills under the cash drawer. If you don't have a safe, find a less obvious place to hide your extra cash until you go to the bank.
• Use a safe that the clerk cannot open alone or that requires two keys. Post that fact conspicuously, including on the safe itself.
• Use video camera surveillance and make it well known.
• Always have at least two clerks working at night.
• Vary your banking routine. Carry cash in a variety of ways - a lunch sack, attaché case, flight bag, pocket, etc. Money bags ar pretty obvious.
• Vary the times and routes that you use to go to the bank.
• Make deposits as often as possible, never less than once a day.
• Be alert for "customers" who seem to be loitering or glancing around the store while appearing to shop or browse through a magazine.
• Watch for suspicious persons outside the business - especially in parked cars and around telephone booths.
• If you see someone who is acting suspicious inside or outside, call the police to have them checked out.
• Two persons should be on hand at opening and closing times.
• At opening time, one person should enter the store and check to see if it has been disturbed.
• Before closing, one person should check the office, back rooms and rest rooms to make sure no one is hiding inside.
• Keep side and back doors locked. Have employees use the main entrance, if possible.
• Place markers at the main entrance that employees can use to help gauge the height of a robber as he leaves.

---

---

PREVENT CARJACKING

• Always park in well lighted areas, if you plan to arrive or leave after dark.
• Don't park in isolated or visually obstructed areas near walls or heavy foliage.
• If you're a woman driving alone, experts suggest that you use valet parking or use an attended garage. Important to remember if you use valet parking is never to leave anything in your car containing personal information that can be stolen or used for identity theft.
• As you walk to your car, always be alert to suspicious people just sitting in cars. Many times carjackers use this technique to spot potential victims who aren't paying attention.
• One of the best pieces of advice from security experts is this. If you are alone at a shopping mall, don't be afraid to ask a security guard to escort you to your car. It just might save your car from being stolen---or your life being put at risk! So, do the smart thing! Ask for help.
• Another favorite carjacking method used by young males is loitering in areas and handing out fliers, etc. So, pay attention to your surroundings and avoid places that just don't "feel right".
• Well, what should you do if you see someone approaching you on the way to your car? Either change directions or run into a busy store. Alert mall security about what happened.
• Many times--and I can't understand why---people don't listen to their "gut instincts". If a situation doesn't feel right---Get Out Of There In A Hurry!
• Very few people go to the extreme of looking under, around and inside their car as they approach it. Security experts all agree, this is a great way to keep alert to protect yourself from carjacking!
• Don't open your car door unless you absolutely feel sure that it is safe to do so. Enter quickly and then lock the doors. If you don't feel safe, start the horn blowing by using your keyless entry button.
• Don't be a target by turning your back while loading packages into your car.
• One of the easiest ways to avoid carjacking is to make it your habit to always start your car and drive away immediately. The longer you linger inside your car without driving away, the better target you become for carjackers.
• Teach and practice with your children to enter and exit your car quickly.
• Especially in cities, always drive with your car doors locked and the windows rolled up. All it takes from you is an instant of not being focused and it could cost you your car----or even worse---your life!
• Here is a great method to avoid carjacking. When stopped in traffic, leave room to maneuver and escape, if necessary.
• This is one of THE GREATEST RISKS you can face! If you are bumped in traffic, don't get out of the car! Use your cell phone to call the police. Many time carjackers use this technique so that the drivers get out of their cars. At that point, it's easy for them to overpower you and steal your car. Stay alert--don't let this happen to you!
• If your car is bumped from behind, just wave for the other car to follow yours to a gas station or other busy place before getting out. Again, we suggest that you call the Police even before you get out of the car. You just can't afford to take chances with your car or your life!
• If you are ever confronted by an armed carjacker--Do Not Resist! Always remember--your car can be replaced. But once your life is gone--it's over forever!
• Give up your keys or money if demanded without resistance.
• The very last thing that you want to do is argue, fight or chase the carjacker. You could be seriously injured or killed. So, don't do it--it's not worth it.
• Never agree to be kidnapped! Either drop the keys or throw them away from the car as far as you can. When the carjacker goes for the keys--get out of there as fast as you can.
• If you are forced to drive with the carjackers, think about crashing your car near a busy intersection so that bystanders can come to your aid and call the police.