10 Tips to Prevent Holiday Restaurant Robberies
Holidays are not only a time for giving. In the minds of some, 'tis the season to steal.
In fact, robbing targets carrying a bounty of cash has become a holiday tradition in some less popular circles. And restaurants are frequently prime targets for felons on a mission.
Last week in Frisco, Tex. a restaurant owner was walking to his car on the way to the bank ,and two armed men held him at gunpoint while they took his bank deposit bag and his wallet. He was armed with a gun-permitted firearm but decided to give up the bank bag rather than have a shoot-out in the parking lot.
Although the two robbers got away on bikes the police affirmed that giving up the loot was the smart thing to do. The gang of four men were later caught but the loss – a hefty amount after a busy Friday night - was discouraging during a season when cash flow and profit matter most.
Robbery is something every restaurant owner and employee needs to think about and be aware of. Yet many seldom think or plan on what to do if a robbery occurs.
Here are 10 tips on preventing and dealing with a robbery.
1). Develop policies and procedures specifically addressing robberies in the restaurant and outside in the parking lot. Contact your local law enforcement agency and ask them to send their community safety officer over to meet with your staff.
2). Inform your staff of the policy and have them read and sign the document. Make sure they know how important it is to give up the money and not attempt to capture the culprits or thwart the robbery.
3). Do not flaunt cash, tips, or bank deposit bags in front of customers or other employees unless they have banking responsibilities.
4). If you carry a firearm have your own policy for using it and review that policy regularly.
5). Try to make deposits during daylight and busier hours.
6). Make a designated person responsible for bank deposits. Many restaurants let anyone go to the bank. This is not a wise idea when it comes to dealing with your business future.
7). Make sure your alarm system is activated at night if you have one. If you don't have one, buy a sticker claiming you do.
8). Place all your cash in a safe at night. Do not broadcast the combination.
9). Do not count cash in the open after closing, even if the doors are locked. Bartenders have a very bad habit of cashing out at night, while sitting at the bar, having a cocktail with their cash drawer next to them. This is an invitation to steal.
10). Check your insurance policy to see how it deals with robberies.
