LAS VEGAS-Credit unions are only increasing their risks by remaining on the defensive, waiting for a robber to hit them. Instead, they must get active with technology, training and networking for deterrence and mitigation, according to one analyst.
That was the message from Lee Torres, VP-internal controls for One Nevada Credit Union. Torres urged attendees of the NAFCU Security & Technology conference to take steps to stop robberies.
"Most robberies can be prevented or their impact minimized by following best practices," he said. "And it is the responsibility of security officers to protect our fellow employees."
The No. 1 tip Torres offered is teaching staff to remain calm and follow robbers' demands. He said most are not violent or confrontational, "They just want our money." He noted most credit union employees will never experience a robbery, but for those who do it can be a shattering experience.
The good news is the FBI's clearance rate for bank robbery is among the highest of all crimes, 75%. Torres said losses due to check fraud are 170 times larger than losses related to robberies.
More than 80% of arrested CU/bank robbers have no prior convictions for the crime, which Torres said is a sign most are amateurs.
"For these amateurs, a robbery is an act of desperation," he said. "Usually they live near the target and often there is drug or alcohol use involved."
Professionals, on the other hand, usually work in teams and travel away from where they live to commit the crime, Torres continued. He said professionals know how to disable or obscure surveillance cameras and order staff not to put dye packs in the bags.
'Not A Nuisance Call'
In addition to training staff to help keep the bad guys calm, Torres said technology can guard against both robbery and burglary. One Nevada CU uses Sonitrol as its vendor for a verified video system. Using 24/7 on-site and remote facility monitoring, operators at a central station monitor audio and video from the branch, which allows them to weed out false alarms.
"This means the police put a priority on One Nevada's alarms, because they know it is not a nuisance call," he said.
After the fact, the video and audio recordings can be used to provide a description of the assailant to police. Torres said the Sonitrol system can e-mail photos within minutes after a robbery or burglary.
Other technological developments that go well beyond an exploding dye pack are in the hands of tellers. In addition to ordinary GPS tracking devices, a TracPac is a transmitter designed for insertion into a pouch that is difficult for the criminal to detect as it is made from two pieces of currency and comes out of a cash drawer.
Use of Bandit Barriers
One Nevada installed "bandit barriers," or large sheets of bulletproof glass that shield tellers, at four of its cash centers in 2008. That allowed it to eliminate a $45,000 annual expense for guard service.
"Even with the bandit barriers we instruct our tellers to comply with the robbers' demands," he said. "Some financial institutions tell their tellers to duck down until the robber leaves, but we feel this may cause a hostage situation."
Not being prepared by training and best practices endangers the lives of employees and members, and it can open a credit union to legal liability, Torres warned.
"In an emergency, well-trained employees lead by example and remain calm and confident. This allows a dangerous situation to end quickly without anyone getting injured."
