Safety, Security and Loss Prevention

Transcription

1 Safety, Security and Loss Prevention

2 Safety, Security and Loss Prevention Safety begins with you. This program is designed to increase employee awareness of the impact robberies have on the retail, and more particularly, the convenience store industry. Losses range from inventory, cash, human capital and sometimes human life. If these losses are high, the business cannot continue to exist. Such consequences result in loss of livelihoods. With proper training and precautions, the incidence of robbery can be greatly reduced, thereby protecting the store owner from financial or other more serious losses. Prevention. Preventative actions will preserve capital and resources, shield store owners from unnecessary liability, and ultimately save human capital from injury or loss of life. There are many precautions a store owner can take to prevent or reduce the likelihood of becoming a robbery victim. Prevention is not just for the store owner. All employees have a duty and responsibility to stay vigilant and take proactive steps to protect the store from loss of cash, inventory and other resources. It is the obligation of the store owner and all store employees to learn and educate themselves of basic robbery prevention and loss prevention techniques. This presentation will discuss theft and robbery prevention actions. These tips and actions will help all store owners and their employees in reducing the likelihood of robberies and theft from occurring at your store. Follow this information carefully, put it into practice in your workplace and everyday lives. The changes you implement after this session will make you, your families and your communities happier and safer. Disclaimer: The information being delivered in this presentation is general in nature. As a result, GHRA makes no warranties, guaranties or other representations to any business or participant that the incidence of robbery, theft or other crime to the business or its employees, customers or invitees will decline or be eliminated by implementing the recommendations derived from this presentation. Participants are requested to consult with a safety and security professional to make a specific analysis and develop safety plans that meet with the particularities of each retail location and their personnel. 1

3 Safety, Security and Loss Prevention Why would a robber pick your store? Based on extensive research and studies of what robbers look for, here are some of the things robbers consider when planning a robbery. Money available Opportunity to get to the money quickly Will they be noticed in the store? Will they be noticed from the outside of the store? Unorganized store No time delay safes in store Easy escape routes 2

4 Safety, Security and Loss Prevention Tips : How to stay safe? 1. Make eye contact with and greet every customers that enters the store. 2. Keep the amount of exposed cash to a minimum. Cash handling tips include: Keep the money in the cash drawer to a minimum. Make cash drop often Drop all large bills into the safe immediately. Post signs that say store employees do not have access to the safe. 3. Keep windows and doors clear, and free of signs and posters. 4. Frequently change the time of day that bank deposits are made. 5. Keep clear visible sight lines throughout the store. 6. Keep the store well lit, both inside and outside. 7. Be observant and stay alert. Never be afraid to call the local police dispatch when you see suspicious persons or activities. IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, CALL 911. Take the time to go over the checklist on the next 3 pages. Each of these reminders is designed to protect you, your customers and your store. 3

5 Safety, Security and Loss Prevention YOUR STORE Self Safety Evaluation If you answer the question with a Yes answer, you are following the proper safety procedure. If you answer No, you are hosting a potentially unsafe situation. You must take action to correct the situation and create a safe workplace. 1. Eye contact made with all customers, and Yes No all customers personally greeted? 2. Phone conversations when customers are present? Yes No 3. Windows and doors free of signs and clutter? Yes No 4. Displays built low enough so windows are not Yes No blocked? 5. All interior merchandise gondolas kept below 50 Yes No inches or low sight lines throughout store? 6. All merchandise rotated and pulled forward? Yes No 7. Interior of store is bright and well lit? Yes No 8. Height Strip applied to front door frame? Yes No 9. No bills larger than $20 kept in the register drawer Yes No or underneath the cash drawer? 10. $50 bills, $100 bills and all checks dropped Yes No immediately? 11. Cash in drawer is kept to a minimum? Yes No 12. No unauthorized persons allowed behind the Yes No checkout counter? 13. Does your store have a bulletproof enclosure? Yes No 14. Do employees keep bulletproof enclosure Yes No door/window closed at all times? 15. Buzzers or door chimes on front door Yes No installed and working? 4 TOTAL NO

6 Safety, Security and Loss Prevention 16. Extra lottery tickets, money orders, gift cards, Yes No phone cards, cigs. - Cartons kept locked/secured? 17. Do you keep adequate insurance - personal, Yes No inventory, liability, etc.? 18. Store security stickers are used inside and outside Yes No the store? 19. Properly working security cameras and monitors Yes No mounted in full view of customers? 20. After hours security system installed and alarms Yes No set after closing? 21. Do you have current alarm permit for your store? Yes No 22. Alarms system codes changed at least once per Yes No year, or after an employee is terminated? 23. Management makes unscheduled night visits Yes No to store, inspecting lighting, doors, cash handling procedures? 24. Only management takes the deposits to the Yes No bank, during daylight hours? 25. Management varies the times the bank deposits Yes No are made, and does not announce the bank run? 26. Do you use armor car services to make deposits? Yes No 27. Bank deposits and cash drawers are counted Yes No out of view of customers in a secured area. 28. Two or more employees at a time? Yes No 29. Panic button located behind the counter and Yes No tied to alarm system. 30. Cash drawers are emptied at night, and Yes No empty drawer left open overnight? TOTAL NO 5

7 Safety, Security and Loss Prevention 31. Store closing checklist, including safety procedures, Yes No is posted and used by all employees? 32. All employees are properly trained on Loss Yes No Prevention techniques? 33. All doors re-keyed at least once per year, or Yes No after a employees is terminated? 34. Selected Interior lights or emergency lights Yes No left ON after store is closed? 35. All canopy lights working? Yes No 36. All canopy lights lenses clear & clean? Yes No 37. Adequate lighting ON all exterior sides Yes No of building? 38. All areas of parking lot properly lit? Yes No 39. All exterior lights turned ON at dusk? Yes No or 2 canopy lights kept ON after closing? Yes No 41. Outside perimeter lights left ON after Yes No closing at night? 42. All exterior fuel storage tank caps or covers Yes No kept locked at all times? 43. Outside trash cans emptied only during daylight Yes No hours? 44. Is your ATM machine placed at Yes No safe/secured location? 45. Do you empty ATM cash tray for overnight? Yes No TOTAL NO GRAND TOTAL (Pages 4-6) NO 6 see Risk Rating on page 7

8 RISK RATING After completing the survey, add up the questions that you answered with a No answer. The Risk Rating category for your store is as follows: Total # of No answers Risk Rating 0-7 Low 8-15 Medium 16 or more High NOTES 7

9 WHAT TO DO DURING A ROBBERY Remain calm. DO NOT resist. Try not to be a hero. Take no action that would jeopardize your safety. Follow the robber s directions but do not volunteer to do more than is asked of you. If you have to move or reach, tell the robber what you are going to do and why. Assure the robber that you will cooperate. Make mental notes of: The robber s race, age, sex, clothing, complexion, hair, eye color, etc. Anything unusual about the robber such as scars or tattoos. The number of accomplices and how they left the scene, direction of travel and type and color of vehicle. Get the license number if you can safely do so. Any conversations the suspects may have with one another. What the suspect s weapon (if any) looked like so that you can describe it later. Also, try to remember what the suspect touches so that fingerprints may be lifted. Do not run after the robber after he/she has left the store. AFTER THE ROBBERY Go to a safe location close to the robbery scene and call the police (9-1-1) immediately. Ask all witnesses to remain until the officers arrive. If a witness must leave, obtain his/her name, address and telephone number. Witnesses should write or remember their account of the suspects and their actions. Ask them not to discuss the robbery or compare notes about the robber s appearance with anyone. Protect the crime scene. Try not touch anything. 8

10

11 Greater Houston Retailers Cooperative Association, Inc S. Kirkwood Road, Stafford, Texas O (281) F (281)