Armed robbery survival guide

Should you find yourself in that unfortunate circumstance of being in a victim of an armed robbery. Here are a few tips on how to go about surviving that.

• Do not resist. Do exactly as you are told. The robbers are in control of the situation, by virtue of their being armed, and it serves no purpose to resist their instructions-you will only be putting lives at risk.

• Do not use weapons against robbers. This will encourage them to shoot first.

• Relax Regulate your breathing, taking long slow deliberate breaths. This slows your heart rate and helps you relax.

• Speak slowly. Do not shout or raise your voice to the robbers. Robbers will also be nervous and on the edge and it won’t take much for them to lose self-control.

• No sudden movements. When you want to do something-even if it is an instruction from the robber-tell him what you are doing – “ I am going to take the keys out of my pocket now”-and then do it slowly.

• Do not set off the siren activate the alarm only if it can be done secretly. Many armed robberies have turned violent (with hostage taken) because the sirens panics the robbers. Also, only set off the alarm if you can do it without being seen by a robber. Such an action can also trigger a violent response.

• Do not look robbers directly in the face. This may be seen by the robber as an attempt to memorise his features for later identification, and could lead to him shooting the staff member in order to prevent this.

• Give the robbers time to leave. Do not shout or start post-event action until the robbers have left the premises. Do not be a hero. Do not attempt to prevent their get-away many crime scene have turned violent as the robbers are leaving, resulting in deaths and injuries to staff and customers.

• Observation techniques. Clear information on the robbers assists in the SAPS investigation. However, this should not be done at risk to yourself or those around you.

• Do not be obvious in your observing the robbers.

• Focus on one person at the time.

• Gain an overall impression first: height, Build, Weapon, clothing. Special features-a limp, deformities, birthmarks, etc.

• Then Look at details, facial features-round/sharp, eyes close set/wide, apart, etc.

• Remember any names used by the robbers, when talking to each other

• Remember what they touch, where they walk, any cigarette butts discarded, body fluids deposited, etc.

• Vehicle (colour, make, model, etc.)