Panic alarms only work if you can get to one. My families jewelry
store was robbed 6 years ago by 2 men both with guns. There is
absolutely nothing you can do but what they say if you want to
survive. Do NOT reach for a panic button if they can see you. Stay
very calm to deflate the situation. I won’t bore you with the whole
account unless needed. I will say one thing though, the only thing
that saved our lives was that our back door, which has a metal
screen on it to get fresh air, was totally locked that day. The
police found pillow cases and duct tape in the gett away car. They
were planning to use it if they had come in from the back. They came
in from the front and passed one of the most wealthy women in our
town leaving at the same time. She didn’t even know what happened. As
soon as they left, I hit every panic button I could find. I was very
mad that someone could do that to someone else. Funny thing is, about
6 police officers were eating at a nearby resturant, chased them down
and recovered 100K worth of merchandise. One of the men escaped and
it took 4 years to finally catch him. Sorry I rambled but I had
actually forgotten about it until I started reading Panic Alarm.
Kirsten Reynolds
Automobile alarms here are a dime a dozen and go off every time a
loud Harley goes past, so no one reacts. Ever.
The thief will react, if the alarm is inside the store. That’s the
purpose. After all, you aren’t counting on people rushing in to help
when they hear the alarm, are you?
I sympathize with the plight of living in an environment where only
criminals are allowed to have weapons.
Al Balmer
Sun City, AZ
Hans,
Sorry to hear about such a scary situation… but glad that it wasn’t
any worse than it was. Many years ago we investigated an alarm like
you mentioned after an incident (isolated lobby of a manufacturing
company, lone receptionist). Our security consultant highly
recommended that we avoid an audible alarm during an armed
confrontation because it could cause the bad guy to attack. Instead,
we opted for a receptionist’s "panic button= " that triggered an
alert to senior staff to check out the situation in the lobby via
camera. They were trained for specific responses. Fortunately, the
only threats that we’ve had involve drunks or otherwise annoying
people where the arrival in the lobby of reinforcements (large,
no-nonsense male staff) has solved the problem. We seriously debated
having a locked door with admittance via buzzer, but decided against
it because it wasn’t “customer friendly.” How times have changed.
Earlier this year, I had= to lay-off the receptionist and we now
have admittance to the lobby via camera and buzzer.
Good luck on your decision.
Jamie
Hi Again,
I just wanted to mention that usually the to be thief is as scared
as you are. I do not have a brick and morter front but I have had
"issues" pop up at my house. Usually if you act in an aggressive
manner they will either flee or apologize then flee. After a few
occurrences word gets out in the neighborhood that you are crazy and
no one messes with you.
To date the only things I have wielded are lathing stock and a big
knife. I also look directly at them and tell them I have already
called the cops and they have your description. So far this has been
enough. Other people in my neighborhood use the same tactic with
success. I bet a bat wouldn’t be considered against the law get one
of those or a nice long heavy steel bar.
Christine
Living in Detroit, usually a great place to live right now its hot
and humid…
I bet a bat wouldn't be considered against the law get one of those
or a nice long heavy steel bar.
Years ago, I lived in a city neighborhood that turned bad. The
ruffians around there carried legal (but lethal) baseball bats or
golf clubs.
Al Balmer
Sun City, AZ
Years ago, I lived in a city neighborhood that turned bad. The
ruffians around there carried legal (but lethal) baseball bats or
golf clubs.
A number of years ago I was visiting a friend in Los Angeles county
who was a deputy sheriff. He noticed I had a sawed off shovel handle
about 30 inches long in my car. When he asked what it was for I
explained that it was an instructional tool. He looked at me kind of
funny. I explained that when I was instructing Marines in
marksmanship I had to teach them the basic positions. Since we had
females I didn’t want to risk sexual harassment complaints, so I used
the shovel handle as an impersonal way to touch arms, legs, etc.