Answer:
This is a common concern for banks preparing for potential robberies. The primary goal in these situations is ensuring the safety of your employees and customers. It’s important to remember that during a robbery, you can only control the actions of your staff, not the robber or other customers who might react unpredictably.
The question of whether to press the panic button during the robbery depends on the specific circumstances. If you're a teller facing a direct threat, like a robber with a weapon, pressing the panic button could escalate the situation. There have been cases where staff members, not properly trained, inadvertently drew more attention to the robbery, making it a chaotic situation. In a discreet robbery, such as a note-passing scenario, it's possible that not all employees would even be aware of what's happening and that avoids unnecessary panic.
Many institutions have installed magnetic or electronic door locks connected to alarms that can be triggered after the robber leaves. However, there are risks with these systems too. For example, in one case in Texas, robbers believed they were locked inside, even though the door had only slammed shut due to the wind. Their assumption led them to start shooting.
Given your location — where some branches have city police and others rely on county authorities — the response time will vary. The best practice is usually to train staff to activate the alarm once the robber has left. This reduces the likelihood of escalation while still ensuring that law enforcement is notified. Opinions may differ, but the priority should always be de-escalating the situation and ensuring everyone's safety.
print
share