hello, we own a small restaurant/cafe in the corner of a big city.. its mostly lower class people and im not racist but our customers are 90% african american. Im afraid we're gonna get robbed because a lot of our customers are drug dealers etc.. you can smell marijuana when they walk in.. most of our customers are cool, but there was this one guy today who came in and was really shady.. i got this bad bad feeling from him and i was ready to bolt out of the back door.. he was dressed like he was going to rob us wearing all black and gloves , sunglasses etc.. and he kept looking around .. anyway.. this is a family restaurant, and we are asian.. so i dont know what this all means but i just dont know anymore.. pleasee any advice or thoughts .. would be grateful.. is our chances hhigh for getting robbed?? thanks
2006-11-21 16:57:16 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
by the way this is my family's restaurant
2006-11-21 17:01:51 · update #1
we dont have enough money for security guards
2006-11-21 17:26:54 · update #2
im not sterotyping, i had a really shady feeling from this guy.. and now im afriad to bbe honest..
2006-11-21 17:37:53 · update #3
It sounds like your family business is doing OK. I don't know how long you've been in business, but if you treat your customers with respect and really take care of them, you will be surprised how the "neighborhood" will take care of you. There are a few businesses in the area I work in that are in questionable areas, but have never been robbed. If you are really that worried, ask the local PD to make unscheduled stops in your cafe. I'm not trying to say you have to give them free food, but on the salary we make, we really do appreciate the break, and it's good for your business. You could hire an off-duty cop to sit in you cafe, but that could be quite costly depending on how much business you do. Put in video cameras if you don't already have them installed. Place heighth strips at the exits. Just remember this. Now matter how much security you have in place, if someone wants to rob you they will find a way to do it.
2006-11-21 17:37:25 · answer #1 · answered by gablueliner 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Man, if you guys are that worried hire a security guard or an off duty officer to hang out there. That should be a definite answer if you have had things go wrong in the place before. If no problems before just go about your everyday business. Different cultures and races can be intimidating, but if you get robbed give em what they want and call the police. You can have my money before I take any bullet. Get some surveillance cameras!
2006-11-22 01:24:12 · answer #2 · answered by bpzzer 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Get cozy with your local police. Invite the boys/girls in, coffee isn't expensive hand the stuff out.
Let them know you can have a good meal ready when they get there if they order ahead, I don't mean give it for free, they don't always have a lot of time to hang around waiting for a meal to be prepared, having it ordered ahead of time saves time. You can even oblige with a standing orders for the week everyday. We did this with a restaurant and stayed with them until we were transfered. This meant the restaurant kept a 'menu board' in the kitchen with the list for all the workers, times and what they wanted on what day, it worked fine for everyone so it can't be that difficult.
Police coming and going in your establishment will give crooks a second thought.
2006-11-22 08:17:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would suggest get a good....I mean GREAT video surveillence system. In the case of a robbery you should just give them what they ask for and try to be as good of a witness/victim as possible. It is helpful to police/detectives if you are able to quickly burn a copy off of your surveillance system. Trust me, your local cops probably know the idiot who is to blame. The sooner they get the information the more likely they will catch the criminal. Also, you talk about a "bad bad feeling" Cops also get that bad bad feeling at times. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS TRUST IT!!!! The second you ignore the hairs that stand up on the back of your neck, could result in something bad happening.
2006-11-22 06:35:11 · answer #4 · answered by brewbum80 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well...i am black but i certainly understand your postion...this is your business we are talking about...knowing what the demographics are for the location of your business is important...since your are in an urban area that attracts all kinds of people i suggest hiring a security guard.If there are other businesses aroud they might help pay for an off duty cop or security detail during operating hours... in the meantime make sure you have security cameras, good lighting, and at least two people working at all times!!!
2006-11-22 01:40:19 · answer #5 · answered by Vox Populi Vox Dei 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i would suggest a self defense class,closed circut t.v.'s and a posted warninig with leathel consquinces....warning premisis protected i.e.....smith & wessin: mossburg: what ever...some times the knowlage is worse than the bite. call local police to see if they can place a special route through your premisis close to closing time? or at bare minimume have a presence in the parking lot at certian time of day:)
2006-11-22 03:38:21 · answer #6 · answered by wazgold 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should get a security guard to look after your restaurant for you.
2006-11-22 01:24:31 · answer #7 · answered by Robin W 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you are not in a position to defend yourself, then your only choices are to hire off-duty police, or armed security guards.
2006-11-22 09:23:49 · answer #8 · answered by WC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Drug dealers have to eat. If you make 'em feel welcomed I'm sure they will leave you alone. You are stereotyping them before you get to know them.
2006-11-22 01:36:16 · answer #9 · answered by ODDONE 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋