Thank you for bringing attention to credit union robberies in David Morrison's story in the Aug. 15 issue. We had six different robberies at our branches from 2005-06 and decided that we needed to do something about it. I was surprised that Mr. Michael Petrone of CUMIS said, "It's not like there is a set of eight or nine things that we can tell credit unions to do that will prevent all robberies or even almost all robberies."
In fact a credit union can do a great deal to prevent robberies. At SAFE we took the following steps:
1. We surveyed all branches and risk rated them in terms of robbery risk. The risk factors included local police crime ratings for the neighborhood around the branch; the ease of escape from the branch after a robbery; the prior robbery history of the branch; the number of bank robberies in the area; the number of entrances to the branch; and management's judgment of how likely the branch is to be robbed. After we prioritized the branches for robbery risk we then began investing in anti-robbery features.
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2. In the branches with the highest risk of robbery and the highest member traffic, we installed bandit barriers across the teller lines. These bandit barriers made it hard for takeover robbers to gain access behind the teller lines.
3. In the branches with lower risk and lower member volumes we installed electronic devices that allowed the branch to keep the branch doors locked during slow times and to admit members by electronically unlocking the door for each member.
4. We reduced teller cash drawer totals to almost nothing but bait money, coins and a few hundred dollars. We did that by using Teller Cash Dispensers (TCD). This also improved the speed of transactions, reduced cash over- and shortages, eliminated vault cash (its all in the machines) and reduced staff hours. Robbers talk about how much money they get in a robbery. Our robbers go home with very little money.
5. We have electronic chips embedded in the bait money that communicate with tracking equipment in the local police cars. When a robber leaves the branch the tracking device helps police locate the robber. We have had great success with catching robbers who take our bait money.
6. We have installed digital cameras in all branches. Our photos are nearly perfect images of the robbers. We can download them to the police who then have them in their cars for comparison with any suspects in minutes after the robbery.
7. All tellers and platform staff are asked to meet, greet and make eye contact with every member. We have an advanced service counter at the front door of every office that meets and greets members. We have signage that asks members to remove sunglasses, hats and helmets.
8. We have a partnership with all of the local financial institutions, the police, and the FBI. We share photos of from local robberies, descriptions and method of operation of robbers. Our security officers meet regularly to exchange information.
9. We conduct regular robbery training
sessions with all branch staff so that they are prepared for robberies.
10. New branches are designed to make them more robbery proof. We build offices that have lots of glass to give visibility from inside and outside. We place cameras everywhere including the parking lots. We use vestibules to preserve energy but they also make it harder for robbers to burst into the branch. Teller lines
are at the back of the office and are in complete view of everyone in the office.
We know that robbers have choices. We also know that robbers plan their robberies and case the location before they rob it. We know that we are like the camper in the woods–we don't have to outrun the bear we just have to run faster than the other campers. Credit unions are getting robbed more often because they are not running fast enough. I disagree with Mr. Petrone. There are clearly things you can do make your credit union more robbery proof.
Henry Wirz
CEO
SAFE CU
Manhattan Beach, Calif.
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