How to Transport Cash and Valuables Safely

Staff with responsibility for taking cash to the bank or transporting valuables will always be vulnerable to robbery.

But you can take a number of precautions to reduce the risks involved and make your cash less inviting to thieves.

One of the top rules for people who take cash to the bank is to have someone with you on every trip because robbers are much more likely to attack a single person. When there are two of you, it’s also more likely that one can get away to raise the alarm.

Vary Your Route

Another very important routine is to have no routine! This means varying the time of day that you go to the bank and varying the route taken – whether you go on foot or by car.

Although you will always be at risk from opportunist criminals, most organised robbers watch their potential victim for at least a couple of days in advance.

If you use the same route every time, they can plan their attack much more effectively. They will look for points on the route where you are vulnerable – such as a quiet side street where you always park the car or the stairwell down from a multi-storey car park.

You will make things harder for them by using at least three different routes and alternating between them on different days so there is no pattern for robbers to follow.

Other Important Tips to Follow:

• Never advertise the fact that you are carrying cash. Instead of using a briefcase or bank cash bags, disguise the fact that you are transporting valuables by carrying it in an office box file, a strong shopping bag or even an inside coat pocket if there isn’t too much.
• Make criminals aware that your cash is protected – for example, by dye which will be released when stolen. This makes the money unusable so they are likely to look for another target. Advertise your security precautions by putting up posters in the customer areas of your building.
• Limit the amount of cash you carry on each trip. People carrying larger amounts of cash are more attractive to criminals. (They may stand inside the bank to get an idea of how much cash you usually carry)
• Bank only during good daylight hours if possible. Darkness always increases the risk of attack
• If you think someone is following you, pull over to the side of the road to see if they drive on. When walking, watch in the windows of shops you pass to see if the same person is behind you for a long time
• If you’re on foot and suspect you are being followed, walk into any open business premises to see if the person behind carries on walking and obviously, be on your guard if you see someone in a motorcycle helmet or wearing headgear which obscures their face
• Most importantly, NEVER try to resist or “take on” a robber. Just because you can’t see a weapon doesn’t mean that he isn’t carrying one. It’s never worth risking your life to protect cash or property
• Remember that a robber might be very nervous, unpredictable or high on drink or drugs. Don’t do anything to anger or upset him. Hand over the cash calmly if he demands it. If a robber simply runs up and grabs the bag, don’t try to hang onto it. Let go immediately

You will obviously be left very shaken by any robbery attempt but if possible, try to make a mental note of anything that could identify him and write it down as soon as possible.

Memory can play tricks on you, particularly at stressful or frightening moments. (You can assess an attacker’s height against a window, door or street sign as he runs away so that the height you give to police is accurate)