BANK ROBBERY PREVENTION Appointed Sheriff

BANK ROBBERY PREVENTION

• Appointed Sheriff September 2005 • Appointed Undersheriff in 2003 • Started his career in 1981 • Over 24 years of Law Enforcement dedication to the citizens of Douglas County Sheriff David A. Weaver • President/ Vice President for the Highlands Ranch Training Foundation • Graduate of the FBI Academy with honors

BANK ROBBERY PREVENTION Deputy Ron Hanavan Deputy Cocha Heyden Community Relations Unit

BANK ROBBERY

INTRODUCTION • BANK ROBBERIES IN GENERAL: – LOS ANGELES “BANK ROBBERY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD” – MORE ROBBERIES THAN REST OF COUNTRY COMBINED – 1991 LOS ANGELES HAD 2641 ROBBERIES OR ONE EVERY 42 MINUTES – 1999 LOS ANGELES HAD 567 ROBBERIES

WHAT CHANGED IN LOS ANGELES? • CLOSED QUITE A FEW BRANCHES • HARDENED THE TARGETS e. g. : – BANDIT BARRIERS – ACCESS CONTROL DEVICES – PRONET TRACKERS (CURRENTLY GPS) – COOPERATION BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORPORATE SECURITY

CHANGES IN BANK ROBBERIES OVER TIME • TWENTY YEARS AGO, ALMOST ALL BANK ROBBERS WERE HEAVY DRUG USERS • TODAY, BANK ROBBERS ARE ROBBING JUST FOR THE MONEY • BANK ROBBERS NORMALLY DID NOT ROB OR ASSAULT CUSTOMERS: NOW THIS IS COMMONPLACE

DEMAND NOTES

CHANGES IN BANK ROBBERIES OVER TIME • NOTE JOBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH A GREATER USAGE OF GUNS • BANK ROBBERS NOW USE MORE DISGUISES AND WEAR GLOVES • EXAMPLE: BANDAGE BANDIT

INFLUENCES • MEDIA HAS AFFECT ON BANK ROBBERIES – BARRY BORTNICK WROTE, “BANK JOBS: EASY MONEY” FOR COLO SPRINGS SUNDAY GAZETTE ON JAN 23, 2000 • COLO SPRINGS HAD IMMEDIATE INCREASE IN BANK ROBBERIES – CHUCK GREEN WROTE, “ROBBING BANKS MAY BE EASIER THAN YOU THINK” FOR DENVER POST, MAY 2000 • DENVER EXPERIENCED 60% INCREASE IN ROBBERIES DURING 2000 – SOME ROBBERS GET THEIR IDEAS FROM MOVIES SUCH AS “SET IT OFF” AND “HEAT”

Background of Robberies • Threat must continuously be reviewed because of its possibility for personal injury • Most criminals are in a highly nervous or emotional state when committing robbery • May be under the influence of drug or alcohol, mentally unbalanced, driven by peer group or gang pressures • They may be desperate • Must institute some sort of prevention program to assure safety, limit losses and support successful prosecution of offenders

Understanding the Threat • There needs to be motivation, opportunity, and ability on part of perpetrator. • Needs a reasonable expectation of escape, and low probability for detection and apprehension • Robbers fall into three categories: the amateur, the intermediate, and the professional. • Most of today’s robberies are the first two • Method of attack will vary

Profile of Typical Bank Robber • • Likely to be a young, repeat offender male Usually unemployed Statistically non-white as opposed to white Most may be addicted to some type of controlled substance • Most do not do a lot of “casing” of the bank before hand • Some use some type of disguise • One study identified that a weapon was threatened in 95% of the robberies reviewed. A weapon was actually observed 64% of these cases. In 76% of these cases it was a handgun

ROBBER DESCRIPTIONS

PREVENTION • DISPLAY FBI DECAL • ESTABLISH LIAISON WITH SECURITY IN BUILDING • FIRST EMPLOYEE ARRIVING – SURVEY THE OUTSIDE – CHECK INSIDE FOR ANYTHING OUT OF PLACE • KEEP WINDOWS AND DOORS CLEAR

PREVENTION (cont’d) • MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF CASH IN DRAWER AND VAULT • KNOW YOUR CUSTOMERS • BE ALERT FOR SUSPICIOUS PERSONS WHO MAY BE CASING YOUR BANK • CHECK WORKMAN’S CREDENTIALS • SECURE VAULT AT END OF DAY

PREVENTION (cont’d) • SECURE THE EXTERIOR DOORS • AFTER CLOSING, ADMIT ONLY VERIFIED PERSONS • LAST TO LEAVE, INSPECT THE PREMISES • ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT

DURING ROBBERY • STAY CALM • VICTIM SAFETY IS NUMBER ONE IN IMPORTANCE – TELLERS ARE 40% MORE LIKELY TO BE INJURED IF THEY RESIST • FOLLOW ROBBER’S INSTRUCTIONS • EXPLAIN YOUR MOVEMENTS • TRY TO KEEP ROBBERY DEMAND NOTE

DURING ROBBERY (cont’d) • NOTICE UNCHANGEABLE FEATURES OF ROBBER • NOTICE HEIGHT AND BUILD • OBSERVE METHOD OF ESCAPE – GET LICENSE PLATE IF POSSIBLE – GET DESCRIPTION OF VEHICLE – GET DIRECTION OF TRAVEL

AFTER THE ROBBERY • ROBBERY REPORTER – REPORT TO THE POLICE AND THE FBI – PRESERVE THE CRIME SCENE – DESIGNATE AN EMPLOYEE TO MEET POLICE – FILL OUT ROBBERY FORM

AFTER THE ROBBERY (cont’d) • POST ROBBERY COORDINATOR – LOCK THE DOORS – ADVISE EMPLOYEES/CUSTOMERS TO STAY FOR INTERVIEW – CONTACT CORPORATE SECURITY – SET UP INTERVIEW ROOMS – FILL OUT WITNESS FORM

AFTER THE ROBBERY (cont’d) • CRIME SCENE PRESERVER – SECURE REMAINING CASH – ISOLATE THE CRIME SCENE – SECURE SURVEILLANCE TAPE – FILL OUT WITNESS FORM

AFTER THE ROBBERY (cont’d) • WITNESS COORDINATOR – INSURE WITNESSES DO NOT TALK TO EACH OTHER – DO NOT ALLOW WITNESSES TO VIEW VIDEOTAPE – GIVE WITNESS FORMS TO ALL EMPLOYEES/CUSTOMERS – FILL OUT WITNESS FORM

DESCRIPTION OF ROBBER IN CREDIT UNION VIDEO • • • • W/M (25 -30) 5 -10 150 DARK BROWN/BLACK OVER EARS EYES - D/S COMP - FAIR BUILD - MEDIUM FACIAL HAIR - CLEAN SHAVEN GLASSES - WIRE FRAMED AVIATOR SUNGLASSES CLOTHING - GREEN LONG SLEEVED SHIRT, WHITE T-SHIRT, – BLUE JEANS, BLACK SHOES WEAPON - BLACK SEMI AUTO BAG - WHITE CANVAS, WRITING ON BOTTOM JEWELRY - GOLD NECKLACE ACCENT - NONE OVERALL APPEARANCE - CLEAN

QUESTIONS?