Stuart Clarkson, managing executive at Fidelity ADT, provides some advice.
READ: Mom walks into armed robbery at local mall
If you are in the store that is being robbed:
• Co-operate with robbers for your own safety. Listen to their instructions closely and follow their instructions.
• Try and keep as calm as possible. Everyone reacts in a different way, but try and breathe deeply until help arrives.
• Do not use your cellphone while the robbery is in progress as this could agitate the assailants.
• Immediately try and find a sheltered spot and keep low on the ground.
• Take note of the assailants to pass information on to the authorities, such as what they were wearing, any distinctive clothes, markings, jewellery, to name a few. Try and remember what they look like.
• Ensure your children are kept close to you at all times. Do not let children wander off while you are shopping.
• Do not shop with large amounts of cash or valuables.
If you are not in the store being robbed:
• Speak with the store personnel to, firstly, close the roller shutter doors, which is standard operating procedure in many malls, and move to the back of the store, out of sight.
• Try and find a store closest to you and secure yourself as described above.
• Do not try and exit via the standard entry and exit points as these are the same points the robbers may use. Many malls now have standard operating procedures to lock down the mall.
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