Armed robberies: staying calm is most important
Unless you have been trained how to react in dangerous situations, no one ever knows exactly how they will react until they’re confronted with one.
However, knowing the best course of action if caught in a robbery inside a store or shopping centre give one options.
“It’s important to emphasise that the chances of a robbery becoming needlessly violent can be reduced by the behaviour of both staff and customers,” said Clive Humphrey, Managing Director of ADT Central Region.
ADT and the SAPS advise the following:
* Don’t resist. Do exactly as you are told.
The robbers are in control of the situation because they are armed.
It serves no purpose to resist their instructions as you will only be placing your life and others at risk.
* Relax. Regulate your breathing with long, slow, deliberate breaths.
This slows your heart rate and improves concentration, even in the most adverse situation.
* Speak slowly. Don’t shout or raise your voice to the robbers.
They are probably more nervous than you and therefore, more prone to losing any self-control they may have.
* Don’t make any sudden movements. When you want to do anything – even if it is an instruction from the robber – tell him what you are doing.
For example, “I am going to take the keys out of my pocket now”, then slowly do what you said.
* Don’t set off a siren. Activate the alarm only if you can do so secretly or the alarm is silent.
Many armed robberies have turned violent (with hostages taken) due to sirens putting the robbers into a panic.
Don’t look the robber directly in the face.
The robber may believe that you are trying to memorise his features for later identification.
* Give the robbers time to leave. Don’t shout or do anything else until the robbers have left the premises.
Don’t try to be a hero. Don’t attempt to prevent the robbers’ escape.
A trapped robber is a desperate robber whom you shouldn’t share a space with.
“Although clear information about the criminals will assist the SAPS in their investigation it is essential that you don’t make it obvious that you are observing the robbers,” said Humphrey.
“It’s a good idea not to fix your gaze for more than two seconds at a time.”
Here are a few further tips on observation:
* Focus on one person at a time.
It’s better to have a good recollection of one of the robbers than a poor memory of all of them.
First try to gain an overall impression – height, build, weapon, clothing and special features (limps, deformities, birthmarks)), then look at details – facial features, facial shape, eyes set far apart or close together, etc.
* Remember any names used by the robbers when they talk to each other.
Note their language of preference and syntax.
* Remember what they touch, where they walk, cigarette buds discarded, etc.
* Try to identify the vehicle by applying the same techniques as suggested for the criminals i.e. overall impression first and then the details – make, model, colour, registration, additional features.
