Armed Robberies Awareness and Prevention in the Cannabis Industry

Every retail store and facility is susceptible to armed robberies, but the risk can be higher depending on the type of product the store is known to sell. High-risk business owners, such as those in the cannabis industry, must assess all the risk factors. This includes the type of industry they operate, the products they sell or cultivate, the store/facility’s area, and any current security measures. All of these can either increase or decrease the chances of armed robberies in the cannabis business, so it is imperative to mitigate risk as much as possible.

How to Prevent Armed Robberies in Your Cannabis Business

Business owners need to identify the risk of armed robberies in their cannabis business. Owners must determine the estimated value of inventory products and the average amount of cash that will be on hand at any time to decide if the business is “high risk”. The location of the store or facility is also a consideration. If the area is considered “high crime” or if neighboring businesses have experienced a history of robberies or thefts, this could increase the business’ risk of incurring an incident.

To accommodate this increased risk, business owners should increase security measures at their facility, such as installing more security equipment, contracting with a security guard company, or hiring a security expert to conduct a risk assessment to determine the specific risks for the business. Security risk assessments should be completed during the pre-inspection phase, after the build-out concludes, and annually after that. This can include analyzing 3-5 years of crime data for the property and surrounding area, noting robberies, burglaries, nearby instances of civil unrest, gang-related incidents, and other violent crimes.

It should go without saying that high-risk industries need more security measures than lower-risk industries. The best way to avoid crimes like armed robberies in your cannabis business is to take proactive security measures to prevent them from happening in the first place. We highly recommend cannabis businesses invest in the following security systems and equipment:

Video surveillance
Access Control Systems
Alarm Systems
Secure Storage Room
Lighting

All of these security systems and equipment can massively reduce the risk of armed robbery. Lighting can play a crucial role in protecting your business. Criminals detest bright lighting, so setting up bright lights around your perimeter can deter criminal activity. How cannabis businesses use vaults can also reduce the risk of armed robberies. Since cannabis businesses are known to operate primarily in cash, employees should frequently deposit their cash totals in the ATM so that if the store does experience a robbery, losses will be minimal.

Training is another important aspect in reducing the risks during an armed robbery. Once hired, employees should undergo security and safety training within 30 days which should cover emergencies such as armed robberies.

How to Respond to an Armed Robbery

If an armed robbery occurs at the business, thoroughly vetted and trained employees will know that the business values its employees’ safety over replaceable things like products, or cash. Employees should know not to panic, make sudden moves, or attempt to subdue the robber. In the interest of safety, employees should comply with the robber’s demands. Employees should not offer any additional information, conversation, cash, or products. Playing the hero can quickly worsen the situation as a confrontation with the robber increases the chances of an adverse reaction. The goal of responding to an armed robbery should be to get the robber out of the premises as quickly as possible.

Once the robber has left the premises, employees should lock all entryways and call the police to report the armed robbery and any pertinent details. If the armed robbery resulted in any injuries, employees should alert emergency personnel of this fact and the status of the injured. They should preserve the crime scene as much as possible until police arrive to prevent contamination of the crime scene hindering the investigation.

The Importance of Preventing Armed Robberies

It is paramount to reduce the risk of armed robberies. Not only can robberies impact the cannabis business’s long-term goals, but they put the employees’ lives at risk. Cannabis businesses can be appealing targets for criminals since they operate mostly on cash. If frequent incidents occur at the business, the store could garnish a lousy reputation in the community. Staff may no longer feel safe on the premises and may seek employment elsewhere and customers may prefer to do their shopping somewhere they feel safer as well. To prevent this, business owners should evaluate the store’s security plan and standard operating procedures to look for ways to improve the security at the facility and may seek out security consultation to reevaluate the store’s security. Cannabis business owners should also meet with their employees to provide additional training and ask for employees’ input on the store’s security and safety measures.

How Can Sapphire Risk Help?

Tony Gallo and the team of experts and consultants at Sapphire Risk Advisory Group have worked to secure medical marijuana and recreational cannabis businesses in 37 states. Follow us on social media to stay up to date with more security best practices and cannabis industry updates!