Tips for preventing commercial robbery
Take measures that make your store unattractive to robbers. Some prevention measures include:

• A clean, neat store; attentive sales staff; a visible cash register; good lighting; and frequent deposits to the bank.
• The use of mirrors, cameras, alarms, and security personnel in high-crime areas.

What to do when a robbery occurs

• Cooperate with the robber for your safety and the safety of others.

• Make an effort to stay calm and think clearly. Make mental notes of the robber's physical description and other observations that will help law enforcement officers.

• If you can reach your silent alarm without this being noticed, do so. Otherwise, wait until the robber leaves.

• Have a prearranged signal with your employees that indicates a robbery is occurring. Do not use it if the robber can see you. Instead, wait until the robber leaves.

• Most robbers are as nervous as you, so be careful!

Tips for preventing shoplifting

• Train your staff to be courteous and alert. Thieves are less likely to steal if they think they are being watched.

• Sales personnel can notice if merchandise is missing if it is displayed neatly in standard groups with three or four items per display.

• Place small, expensive items in secured display cases close to sales staff. Counters that are near exits are easy targets for "grab and run" thieves.

• When displaying clothes, turn every other hanger on the rack the opposite direction. This also deters the "grab and run" thief.

• Display signs in your store that state "shoplifters will be prosecuted".

• When you apprehend a shoplifter, contact the police department regarding actions you should follow. Cooperate with law enforcement, and with the attorney prosecuting the case.

Preventing credit card fraud

• Ask for identification with every credit card purchase. Examples of valid identification include a valid Illinois driver's license or Illinois I.D. card.

• Don't accept credit cards without checking the "hot sheet" or telephoning for authorization when not using a computerized system.

• Always destroy carbons, if used, from purchase invoices to prevent credit card numbers and names from falling into the wrong hands.

Check cashing precautions

• Accept only local checks with the current names and addresses printed on them.

• Does the check have a low number or no printed number? About 90% of bad checks are drawn on new accounts.

• Does the word amount match the number amount?

• Examine checks closely. Don't accept any with alterations.

• Accept only payroll or government checks when you know the person or can verify the check.

• Don't accept postdated checks.

• Don't accept two or more party checks.