This summer has seen some unfortunate violent crimes occur in the McCauley area. One of them was the armed robbery at the Boyle McCauley Pharmacy. This is one of the types of crimes that EPS strives hard to keep from happening. I wish we could be everywhere at once and be able to respond instantly; however, this isn’t realistic.

So, let’s take a look at how business owners and you can stay safe if these types of crimes occur again.

If you are a business owner, remember that your life is more important than any property. The criminal is usually looking to quickly obtain what he is looking for and leave the area as quickly as possible. Considering this, here are a few points from the EPS STOREWATCH program.

• Stay calm – control your fear by making mental notes of the suspect(s).
• Tell the suspect(s) what you’re going to do. Do exactly what is asked. Don’t make any sudden unexpected moves, and do not volunteer information.
• Obey the suspect(s) demands. Give them what they ask for.
• Remember the suspect(s) description – height, weight, age, accent, facial hair, hair colour, hat, mask, clothing, logos, tears, or other unusual markings.
• Evidence. Protect any evidence left at the scene. Once the suspect(s) have left, lock the doors and call 911.
• Provide the name and address of the store, suspect description, vehicle, (if any), and the direction of travel. Stay on the line with police until instructed to hang up.

Businesses receiving STOREWATCH certification will be provided with a training guide designed to assist business owners, managers and employees cope with the serious threat of robbery. The guide provides information on:

• What to do before a robbery.
• How to maintain the safety of both customers and employees during a robbery.
• What to do after a robbery for employee safety and to assist in the arrest of the suspect(s).

Information on the STOREWATCH program can be found on our EPS website, www.edmontonpolice.ca under Crime Prevention.

_Cst. Wasmuth can be reached at darren.wasmuth@edmontonpolice.ca