7 tips to keep you safe during a robbery

Whether you are at work or at home, knowing what to do when criminals strike is key to staying safe and unharmed during a robbery.

Business owners need to train their staff, and home-owners need to make sure their family members know what to do and how to behave if they are suddenly confronted with armed robbers. Start by following these seven tips from Fidelity ADT:  

1. 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.
2. Relax:  Regulate your breathing with long, slow, deliberate breaths. This slows your heart rate and improves concentration, even in the most adverse situation.
3. 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.
4. No 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.
5. 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. 
6. No eye contact: Don’t look the robber directly in the face. The robber may believe that you are trying to memorise his features for later identification.
7. 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.

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