From: OFC K. A. SODIMU--MPDC--4D--PSA-401 <mpdc2368@comcast.net>

Robbery And Burglary
Prevention Saftey tips

For businesses

a.. Protecting Assets
b.. Preventing Unauthorized Entry
c.. Deterring Crimes
d.. Helping to Apprehend Robbers and Recover Stolen Property
e.. What To Do If You Are Robbed
Robbery is the taking of personal property in the possession of
another, from the person or in the presence of the person, against the
person's will, by means of force or fear of injury. Robbery is a
violent crime and often includes the use of a weapon. Robbers often
case businesses for cash on hand and ways to achieve surprise and
avoid witnesses. Burglary is the entry of a business or other property
with the intent to commit larceny or any felony therein. Businesses
can prevent robberies and burglaries by protecting assets, controlling
entries, and employing various deterrent measures. They can also help
in apprehending the offenders and recovering the stolen property.

These tips can significantly enhance the security of your business.

Protecting Assets
Assets can be protected by keeping them in a safe place,
implementing procedures that deny criminals access to them, etc.

a.. Locate the register where it is visible from the outside,
but far enough away from the window so as not to provoke a quick
window smash.
b.. Use a time-lock drop safe for cash. Keep very little cash
in the register. Keep your safe locked when access is not required.
c.. Safes can be standing or mounted in floors or walls.
Standing safes should be securely anchored to the floor. The back
should be against a wall so it will not be accessible. If the safe is
visible from outside the building, it should be well illuminated and
have the front (locking side) turned away from the windows. Floor
safes should be located where they can be concealed.
d.. Use burglar-resistant safes for money and other valuables.
Use fire-resistant safes for records. Both types should have an
Underwriters Laboratory (UL) label with their effectiveness ratings.
e.. Be unpredictable about moving money from your business to
the bank. Vary the times, routes, and methods of concealment. Make
deposits during the business day, not after closing time. Assign two
employees to make deposits. Vary the assignments over time. Have the
deposit carried in a purse or plain bag; never use a bank bag.
f.. Have employees leave the depository if suspicious persons
are present. Have them return and make the deposit later.
g.. If you use an armored car service, always be prepared for
their pickup and delivery.
h.. Never open your business for anyone after you have closed.
Beware of the caller who states your business has just been broken
into and asks you to come down. Always confirm (by calling back) that
the call was from a law enforcement agency or your alarm company
before going to your business.
i.. Keep all exterior doors locked during business hours
except those used by customers or visitors. Some employees or security
guards should be located to monitor each public entrance. Emergency
exits should be alarmed and designated for emergency use only.
j.. Post signs to indicate areas that are open to the public
and those that are for employees only. Install locks on all doors to
interior work areas to control public access. Doors to storage and
supply rooms, and individual offices should be kept locked when
unattended.
k.. Have all employees wear ID badges or some other means of
distinguishing them from visitors, customers, and others on the
premises. Businesses with restricted areas should give their employees
photo-ID badges that are color-coded to indicate the areas that the
employee is authorized to enter. Offices and storage, supply, and
other work areas should be checked periodically for the presence of
unauthorized persons.
l.. Keep doors to public restrooms locked or under observation
to prevent abuse of the facilities.
m.. Anchor computer hardware and other costly items of office
equipment to a desk or install an alarm that sounds when they are
moved. If neither of these measures is possible, store the equipment
in a secure facility when it is not in use.
n.. Protect merchandise in display cases by keeping the case
doors locked and installing laminated glass or clear acrylic plastic
in the windows. Use plastic tie-downs or metal chords to secure
merchandise on the tops of cases.
o.. Install good locks on outside storage sheds.
p.. Keep items stored outside at least 8 feet from perimeter
walls and fences. Forklifts, moving equipment, and other vehicles that
can easily be started should be made inoperable.
q.. Park company vehicles in a secure fenced area when the
business is closed. If this is not possible, park them close to each
other or the building to help prevent gas siphoning, battery theft,
and vehicle break-ins.
r.. Keep shipments inside until they are to be loaded on trucks.
s.. Open doors only when shipments are being sent out or
brought in. Keep doors locked at other times.
t.. Install a service bell for truck drivers to use to
announce their arrival.

Preventing Unauthorized Entry
The following tips suggest how entry to your business can be
controlled. They deal with doors, locks, windows, other openings,
roofs, fences, walls, gates, and landscaping. Make sure that all
protective measures installed meet the fire and life safety standards
for your type of building.

Doors

a.. Exterior single-swing wooden doors should be of solid-core
or paneled construction, with a minimum thickness of 1-3/4 inches.
Wooden doors can be reinforced with 16-gauge sheet metal for
additional security.
b.. Use strong "glass" in exterior glass doors.
c.. Install a wide-angle (180 degree) peephole. This device
enables you to identify persons at the door without them seeing you.
d.. Hinges should be located on the inside or have
non-removable pins.
e.. Adjust exterior sliding-glass patio-type doors so that
they cannot be lifted up in their tracks to defeat their locks. One
way to do this is to install a few sheet-metal screws in the top track
with their heads nearly touching the top of the door when it is closed.
Locks
Doorknob locks offer no security. Defeating these locks is one
of the most common means of forced entry. Chains don't provide
security either. They are only good for privacy. All exterior doors
should have an additional deadbolt lock. Go to a locksmith or hardware
store for advice on locks.

a.. Install single cylinder deadbolt locks on all exterior
doors. Bolts should have a minimum throw of 1 inch. Strike plates
should have screws that are at least 3 inches long.
b.. On all exterior double doors, install flush bolts
installed at the top and bottom of the inactive door. These should be
made of steel and have a minimum throw of 1 inch.
c.. Install locking devices on all exterior sliding-glass
patio-type doors. These doors should have deadbolt locks as well as
secondary locking devices, the simplest of which is a wooden stick
that is placed in the lower track to prevent the door from opening.
Better security can be obtained from thumbscrew-type locks that are
mounted on both the top and bottom tracks.
d.. Install good locks all doors that lead outside through
garages or storage areas.
e.. Re-key or change all locks when moving into a new home.
f.. Install good locks on gates, garages, sheds, etc. If
padlocks are used, they should be keyed and able to survive assaults
by bolt cutters or pry bars. The shackles should be made of hardened
steel and be at least 9/32 inch thick. It is even better to use a
"shielded" padlock that is designed to protect against bolt cutters.
Combination locks should not be used because they offer very poor
security.
g.. Use a multi-frequency opener on electrically-operated
garage doors, and make sure that the bottom cannot be lifted up to
allow a burglar to crawl under the door.
h.. Use hardened steel hinges, hasps, and padlocks on
hand-lifted garage doors.
i.. Install cane bolts or sliding hasps on the inside of
garage doors to provide additional security.
j.. Go to a locksmith or hardware store for advice on locks.
k.. Consider installing a crossbar as an additional locking
mechanism for exterior doors that have in interior swing. Place a
metal bar or 2 x 4 piece of wood in brackets mounted on both side of a
door. Slide bolts made of heavy gauge steel can also be effective.
l.. Use panic deadbolts operated by push-bars to secure
secondary exits that are designated for emergency use only. They can
be alarmed to ring a bell or sound a horn when the door is opened.
m.. Consider installing latch guards on glass doors. These are
steel plates that are bolted to the frame of the door to prevent the
deadbolt locking mechanism from being twisted off or otherwise
removed. Some guards also protect the latch area. More expensive
guards protect the mortise cylinder and prevent a burglar from
drilling out the tumblers.

Windows and Other Openings
a.. Secure double-hung sash windows by drilling a hole that
slants downward through a top corner of the bottom window into the
bottom corner of the top window on both sides of the window. Place an
eyebolt or nail in the hole to prevent the window from being opened.
b.. Replace louvre windows with solid glass or some other type
of ventilating window. If this cannot be done, glue the panes together
with a two-part epoxy resin.
c.. Secure casement windows with key-locking latches. Make
sure that the protrusion on the window that the lock is attached to is
made of steel and not worn, and that the window closes properly and is
not bowed or warped.
d.. Secure sliding-glass windows as described above for sash
windows or by the same types of locking devices used for sliding-glass
doors.
e.. Consider installing security bars on side, rear, or other
windows that a burglar might break to enter your business. Make sure
that the retaining bolts cannot be removed from the outside. Bars must
comply with Fire Code requirements for inside release to permit an
occupant to escape in the event of a fire.
f.. Use reinforced or strong "glass" in viewing windows on the
lock sides of doors so a burglar cannot break them and reach in to
open the door.
g.. Install strong "glass" in display windows, i.e., laminated
glass or clear acrylic plastic, to prevent window-smash burglaries.
The former has plastic sheets between layers of glass. It looks like
safety glass but will not shatter easily, even after repeated blows.
The latter is also shatterproof but has several disadvantages. It
comes in limited sizes, and is susceptible to marring and scratching.
h.. Secure crawl spaces, ventilation windows, attics that
connect to adjoining businesses, and other openings. Make sure that
window air conditioners are installed securely and cannot easily be
removed from the outside. Seal mail slots in doors if a coat hanger or
other device can be inserted and used to release the door lock.
Roofs
Ladders, trees, fences, drain pipes, and adjoining rooftops can
provide roof access if measures are not taken to deny such access.

a.. Shroud ladders with locking covers.
b.. Trim tree limbs that could provide access.
c.. Secure rooftop skylights, ventilation shafts, air
conditioning and heating ducts, and other possible entry points on the
inside with grills or grates. Those that cannot be secured should be
alarmed.
Fences, Walls, and Gates
Well-built fences, walls, and gates are the first line of
defense against criminals.

a.. Install open chain link or ornamental metal fencing unless
privacy and noise reduction are needed. These types are preferred
because they do not block visibility into the property and are less
susceptible to graffiti. Chain link fencing should have its bottom
secured with tension wire or galvanized pipe, or embedded in concrete
to prevent it from being lifted up to enable a person to crawl in.
b.. Use sharp pointed fencing, i.e., fencing with spikes or a
barbed- or concertina-wire topping, only in industrial and
agricultural zones. In the former it is permitted on top of a fence
with a minimum height of 6 ft. The topping cannot exceed a height of 3
ft or project beyond property lines.
c.. Equip gates with good locks. Latches should be mounted
with carriage bolts and nuts that are welded on or secured by stripped
bolt threads.
d.. Gates that are opened on the inside by a handle or knob
should have shields that prevent a person from reaching in to open
them. They should also be tall enough so that a person cannot reach
over the top to open them.
e.. Gates with beveled latches should be shielded so a person
cannot insert a wire or bar between the frame and the gate and push in
the latch. A dead-bolt lock with a cylindrical latch would be even
better on gates that are not emergency exits and are closed and locked
manually from the outside.
f.. Gates that are opened on the inside by a push bar should
be solid or have a solid metal or plastic shield on the inside of the
gate that extends at least two feet above and below the push bar. The
shield will prevent a person from opening the gate from the outside by
looping a wire through the gate and pulling on the push bar.
g.. Exit gates should have springs that close them securely
after a person goes through. Sensors should also be installed to warn
the security office or manager that a gate has been left open.

Landscaping
a.. Trim trees so that limbs don't provide a means of getting
on roofs or second stories, or of getting over a wall or fence.
b.. Plant bushes with thorns or prickly leaves under
ground-level windows to make access more difficult for burglars.
c.. Plant bushes with thorns or prickly leaves along fences
and walls to make climbing more difficult and prevent graffiti.
Deterring Crimes
Crimes can be deterred by having good visibility and
surveillance on the property, installing an alarm system, employing
security guards, keeping the property in good condition, posting
warning signs, etc.

a.. Keep windows and counters clear. Don't allow them to be
cluttered with signs and displays. All advertising and signage shall
be placed and maintained in a manner that ensures that law enforcement
personnel have a clear and unobstructed view of the interior of the
premises, including the area in which the cash registers are
maintained, from the exterior public sidewalk or entrance to the
premises."
b.. Install convex mirrors to enable employees to see people
in areas that might be blocked by display shelves, walls, or other
obstructions.
c.. Post signs saying that employees do not have access to the
safe.
d.. Post signs saying that the store is covered by CCTV cameras.
e.. Post a Neighborhood Watch or alarm company sticker on
entry doors and windows.
f.. Know what is happening outside the store or place of
business. Post NO LOITERING sign. Look for anyone watching the store,
or loitering in or around it. Make sure exterior lighting is adequate.
g.. Post NO TRESPASSING sign.
h.. Post NO PUBLIC PARKING signs. Signs prohibiting public
parking or stating that parking is for customers only, and stating
that unauthorized vehicles will be removed at the owner's expense.
Make sure that the sign be displayed, in plain view, at all entrances
to the property.
i.. If a store has a retail package off-sale alcoholic
beverage license to sell alcoholic beverages it must post signs
stating that OPEN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ARE PROHIBITED ON THE
PREMISES. These signs must be clearly visible to patrons of the
licensee and parking lot and to persons on the public sidewalk
immediately adjacent to the licensed premises. This prohibition also
applies to the public sidewalk immediately adjacent to the licensed
premises.
j.. Greet all customers. Make eye contact as they enter the
business. Ask if assistance is needed. Customers and clients like the
attention -- robbers don't.
k.. Consider employing well-trained, highly visible security
guards. Uniformed security guards that patrol the business on foot can
be a highly effective in deterring robberies and burglaries. The
company that provides the guards should be licensed and insured. The
guards should be licensed as well.
l.. Dogs act mainly as a psychological deterrent. They can be
an excellent supplement to a security system provided the animal can
be relied upon to give warning when warning is needed. Dogs can scare
a stranger away by either barking or looking fierce. But remember that
they can be lured away, poisoned, killed, or even stolen. Trained
attack dogs are not recommended because the risk of liability to the
owner is great should the dog attack an innocent person. Outside dogs
should be kept in a fenced area with a good lock on the gate.
m.. Install a good alarm system. A basic system has sensors
attached to doors, windows, and other openings to detect entries.
Sensors can also be installed inside to detect motion or attempts to
enter specific areas. Reputable companies will install and maintain a
system that will ring an alarm on the premises and silently signal the
company's headquarters for dispatching the police or an alarm company
agent. Once the company representative has made an appraisal of your
security needs, ask for a written proposal and a copy of the contract
you will have to sign. Make sure the contract lists all the points of
protection, the equipment to be installed, and the initial and monthly
payments. You should also check with your insurance company to see if
you qualify for an alarm discount.
n.. Use fencing, gates, landscaping, pavement treatment,
signs, etc. to define clear boundaries between your property and
adjoining properties.
o.. Keep your property in good condition. Criminals are
attracted to property in poor condition because they see that the
owners or tenants do not care about it. Keep property free of trash,
litter, weeds, leaves, dismantled or inoperative vehicles, and other
things that indicate neglect. Remove graffiti as soon as possible
after it is found. This will discourage further vandalism. The
graffiti should be covered with matching paint so a "canvas" is not
left for the vandals. Hardware or paint stores should be consulted
regarding the best products for removing various types of graffiti
from specific surfaces without damaging the surface. Extreme care
should be used in applying special graffiti removal products like MEK
(Methyl Ethyl Ketone) or "Graffiti Remover" on glass or unpainted
surfaces. Replace broken windows or screens. Repair broken fences and
gate locks. Remove loose rocks and other objects that could be used to
vandalize your property.
p.. Leave a few interior lights on at night in the back of the
store or office where they may illuminate and silhouette intruders,
and not create glare for passing patrol cars.
q.. Illuminate all external areas of the property, including
entry areas, storage yards, and parking lots. Such lights are usually
mounted on poles, the sides of buildings, or the edges of roofs.
Timers or photoelectric cells can be used to turn lights on at dusk
and off at dawn. And motion sensors can be used to turn lights on when
any motion is detected. Streetlights or lights from adjoining
properties should not be relied on for lighting the property at night.
Also, the lights should be directed so they don't shine into the eyes
of passing motorists or police patrols.
r.. Replace burnt-out bulbs promptly. Use screens, wired glass
covers, or other protection for light fixtures and bulbs. Install
padlocks on circuit-breaker boxes to prevent the lights from being
turned off.
s.. Keep landscaping trimmed to preserve good visibility on
the property and deny criminals possible hiding places. Trim bushes to
less than 3 feet to eliminate possible hiding places, especially near
windows, sidewalks, and exterior doors. Trim tree canopies to at least
8 feet. And make sure that trees and bushes do not block lights.

Helping to Apprehend Robbers and Recover Stolen Property
a.. Train your employees on what to do during a robbery.
b.. Use "bait money if you can." Keep a list of serial and
series numbers. Do not use these bills to make change.
c.. Keep a record of descriptions of suspicious persons or
vehicles. Be alert to your customers and surroundings, especially at
opening and closing. Be aware of thieves using physical disguises:
wigs, mustaches, etc. If possible have two employees open and close.
d.. Place colored height marks at all exits to estimate
suspect's height.
e.. Develop a mutual aid system. Form an agreement with nearby
merchants to keep an eye on each other's businesses and watch for
suspicious activities. An inexpensive buzzer system can alert
adjoining businesses to an emergency situation.
f.. Install video cameras to cover the front door, register,
safe, and other areas where there is no surveillance by employees.
They should be mounted where they cannot be covered or tampered with.
Dummy cameras should not be used because most criminals can tell the
difference between real cameras and dummies. Monitors have to be
watched continually to enable crimes in progress to be observed and
reported, and actions taken to stop them and apprehend the criminals
before they can escape. Otherwise cameras only help deter crimes by
providing a record of the crime that might be used to identify the
perpetrator.
g.. Install panic alarm buttons at cashier and other
vulnerable positions.
h.. Place the company's name or some identification number on
all company-owned items, e.g., office equipment, tools, vehicles, and
machinery. This can be done by engraving or etching, or by using a
permanent adhesive, or by attaching microdots.
i.. Keep a detailed, up-to-date record of your valuables.
Include type, model, serial number, fair market value, etc.
j.. Make address numbers easy to read from the street to avoid
delays in police response. (Numbers on curbs or mailboxes should not
be the sole means of identification. If numbers are painted on curbs,
they should be located near driveways where they are not likely to be
blocked by parked vehicles.) The numbers should be at least 6 inches
high on a high-contrast background, and lighted so they can be seen at
night. Where numbers at the main entrance are not easily visible from
the street, e.g., for businesses in a shopping mall, additional
numbers should be posted where they will be visible. Numbers should
also be posted in the rear of the business and on the roof so they can
be seen from alleys and the air, respectively.
What to Do If You Are Robbed
The first thing to do is to train your employees on what to do
in the event of a robbery. Every robbery is different. You will need
to assess yourself, the robber, and the situation to determine what
you should do. Here are some general tips:

a.. Act calmly. Do exactly what the robber says. Keep your
movements short and smooth to avoid startling the robber.
b.. Do not resist. Cooperate for you own safety and the safety
of others. Robbers usually are excited and easily provoked. Tell the
robber about any movements you plan to make.
c.. Activate an alarm if it can be done safely without
alerting the robber.
d.. Observe carefully. Study the robber's face and clothing,
note any other distinguishing features, observe the direction of
escape, record the license, make, and color of any vehicle used in the
robbery, etc. Write down everything you can remember about the robber
and the crime itself.
e.. Lock the door and call 9-1-1 immediately after the robber
leaves. Call the police before you call the owner or anyone else.
f.. Preserve the scene. Discontinue regular business until
officers have searched the scene. Cover any surfaces the robber may
have touched and keep away from areas where the robber may have been.
g.. Ask witnesses to remain. Get names and phone numbers if
they are unable to remain. Ask to see their driver's licenses or other
ID to verify this information.
h.. Don't discuss the robbery with others until all statements
have been taken.


OFFICER K. A. SODIMU.
M. P. D. C.
4TH DISTRICT.
P. S. A.-- 401.