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Home › Services Online › Property Safety › Business Security › Potential Threats

Meeting Potential Threats

If faced with a potentially dangerous situation or threatening person:

  • Try to remain calm and assess the situation.
  • Activate alarm or call for help as soon as it is safe to do so.
  • Obey any instructions, but do not provide money or goods not asked for.
  • Move slowly but with safety.
  • Advise the offending person of any movements you may have to make which could appear sudden or unexpected.
  • Unless otherwise ordered, continually watch the offending person.
  • Do not invade the space of the person committing the offence and keep your hands in view.
  • Make mental notes about the offender, e.g. Clothing, scars, tattoos, unusual features, odours, accent, speech, nicknames, and weapon if used.
  • Check height against door markers.
  • Mentally go through a possible offence and consider what you can do. This helps your mind not go blank and you can have a more secure control of any situation which may occur.

Remember: No amount of money is worth a life.

If an offence occurs, take the following steps:

  • Activate an alarm, if not already activated.
  • Telephone police with the following information:
    • Your name.
    • address of premises, including nearest cross streets.
    • number of offenders and description.
    • description of vehicle and direction of travel.

  • Close premises to the public and isolate area for forensic tests.
  • Ensure no one interferes with the scene or any articles that may have been left behind by the offending person/s (e.g. note or weapon)
  • Request witnesses to remain or get their names, addresses and telephone numbers.
  • Have staff independently complete suspect description forms.
  • Refrain from making statements to the media before police arrive.
  • Do not discuss with anyone the amount of money or goods stolen.
  • Supply police with all details, however insignificant they may appear.
  • Consider victim support or counselling for your staff.
Prevention of crime must be the key to our thinking. Therefore, the techniques and options provided here endeavour to assist the small business operator develop a risk management strategy aimed at deterring offenders.

 


Last Updated: 09/12/2005