How to keep yourself and others safe during and after an armed robbery

Courtesy of Jewelers Mutual Insurance Co.

Jewelry manufacturers, designers, and suppliers routinely store and transport items of significant value. While you may follow all the current advice about preventing robberies, there is still a chance you will find yourself face to face with an armed robber. Don’t wait until it happens to think about how you’ll react. Take the time to learn how to survive a robbery and discuss these tips with your associates as well. It’s a conversation that could save lives.

During an Armed Robbery

Whether you’re at your operation or on the road, a robber will try to catch you off guard and use fear as a tactic to intimidate you and any other bystanders who may be present. Robbers will make threats and may or may not display a weapon.

• Assume the threat is real. Whether weapons are displayed or not, you should always assume the robber is armed and willing to use a weapon in the face of any resistance. Follow the instructions the armed robber gives you and do so quickly and to the letter. As difficult as it will be, try to stay calm and do exactly as you’re told.
• Give in quickly. No amount of jewelry merchandise or cash is worth your life. That is why, as a jeweler, you must be adequately and appropriately insured against armed robbery peril. Give the robber what he or she wants right away. “The risk of death or serious physical injury to a jeweler and their staff increases dramatically if the armed robber encounters resistance or a lack of cooperation on the part of the jeweler,” said David Sexton, CPCU, vice president of loss prevention consulting at Jewelers Mutual. “That’s why we recommend our jewelers and their staff never second guess an armed robber and cooperate fully.” If the armed robber demands your vehicle, hand over the keys quickly.

After an Armed Robbery

After an armed robbery has occurred and you are sure the robber has left your operation, you will want to lock all the doors and then, and only then, call for assistance or trigger an alarm or other hold-up alert device.

Once you’re no longer in immediate danger, you have an important role to play. You and any other witnesses will need to assist the police in their investigation: The minutes immediately following an armed robbery can play a key part in determining whether investigators get the evidence they need for a conviction.

• Act quickly. Even when you have discharged an alarm or panic button, call the police. Tend to anyone who may have been injured and, if necessary, call for appropriate medical assistance. Some witnesses may wish to leave before the police respond and are able to talk to them about the robbery. Because this information is so important to the police investigation, if witnesses insist on leaving, obtain their names, phone numbers, and other contact information so police can interview them afterward.
• Don’t touch anything. Make sure no one disturbs or inadvertently contaminates the crime scene. Fingerprints and other unique identifying evidence left at the scene can help police positively identify a robber and place that robber at the scene of the crime. This evidence may also help link the robber to other armed robberies of jewelry operations. Remember, catching the thief not only assists in the recovery of stolen jewelry merchandise but also, more importantly, gets a dangerous criminal who might rob again off the street. It may even help save another jeweler’s life.
• Make notes. Immediately following a traumatic event like an armed robbery, you and the other witnesses will want to discuss what just happened, but it’s important that you don’t influence each other’s memories of the event. Instead of talking, have everyone write down their experience, independent of each other, as quickly as possible. Ask them to include details about the robber’s height, weight, and clothing as well as any identifying marks such as tattoos, scars, or unique facial features. If witnesses saw the getaway vehicle, or the direction it was going, they can write this information down also.
• Call your agent. After the police have arrived and the crime scene is preserved, contact your insurance agent, broker, or carrier directly. Experienced claims professionals can assist you with the claims process or help you address any immediate needs or concerns you may have.
• Take care of yourself. Once the police have left, the incident may be far from over in your mind. People who have been victimized by an armed robbery are often traumatized by the event. You might find yourself fluctuating between feeling all right and feeling anxious or overwhelmed. Even months or years later, victims of an armed robbery can experience flashbacks.
• Don’t try to deal with the trauma of an armed robbery alone. Talk with friends, family, or even a spiritual counselor. If flashbacks or anxiety are interfering with your home or family life, consider professional counseling. Your insurance company may give you and your associates access to financial support to help you recover emotionally.

For more information about operating your business safely and securely, visit Jewelers Mutual’s website at JewelersMutual.com.

MJSA exclusively endorses Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company’s commercial and personal jewelry insurance products. To learn more about Jewelers Mutual’s coverages and to find an experienced insurance agent in your area, contact Jewelers Mutual at 1-800-558-6411.