How to deal

with being robbed.

It was late at night on the audit shift and as usual I was folding towels in the back when I heard the sliding glass doors swoosh open. When I came around, a tall man in his late twenties and dressed in athletic clothes was writing something on the back of a survey that we give to guests to rate our performance.

"How may I help you?", I asked robotically with the fake smile I had learned over time.

"Um, yeah, where's the bathroom?" the man asked in what seemed like an overly-nervous fashion. I really didn't think much of it as it wasn't an uncommon request, "Across from the elevator," I replied as I pointed him around the corner. He disappeared, and I went back to work, thinking nothing of it.

About five minutes later he reappeared, and again I repeated my request of helping him. "Yeah, how much is a room for the night?" he asked, still nervous.

"Well, " I said, "All we have left are jacuzzi suites, and they're $129.99 a night."

"Open the register," he said firmly.

I was confused for a moment; we didn't have a register, only a cash drawer. "What?"

He repeated his request and it was then that I noticed that his hand was part-way down his navy basketball shorts. Oh shit! I thought, He might have a gun! I think I'm being robbed! My mind raced as I unlocked the cash drawer.

"Take out the till." When I had placed the till on the counter he scooped all of the bills out, and took a roll of coins. Nickels, as I noted later as opposed to the roll of dimes next to it. Bigger isn't always better.

Then he left. That was it. Very calm, no yelling or threats. Not like in the movies at all, I thought.

Robbery: it's fairly common, and although, according to OSHA statistics (http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3153.html) the hotel sector is not in the top five most vulnerable business classes, we are still at risk. Night auditors are especially vulnerable, often working alone and at night. According to the OSHA report, the most vulnerable employees include ones who have contact with the public, are involved with the exchange of money, work alone or in small numbers and work late night or early morning hours, among other things. Sounds like an auditor to me. But how do you deal with this if it comes up? Do you know what to do in case of a robbery?

Many businesses have training in this area, but often small franchise or independent hotels do not have a plan in place. Here are some recommendations:

1. Know your rights. If your employer doesn't have a plan in place they are in violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. According to this they are, by United States law, required to "create and disseminate a policy to managers and employees that expressly disapproves of workplace violence..." and "outline a comprehensive plan for maintaining security in the workplace."

2. Encourage your employer to provide training. It's your neck on the line and which is more important: your life or their money?

3. If you are in a robbery situation, try to stay calm and do as the robber says. If you have to move or reach, tell the robber exactly what you are doing. Don't make any surprise moves. Only activate an alarm if you can do so secretly. Let the robber leave and note his direction of departure. and vehicle if you can do so safely. Most importantly, don't try to be a hero. It's only money, and it's not even yours.

The guy who robbed my hotel was eventually caught, and sentenced to prison time. It turns out that he also robbed a pizza place earlier in the day. I'm not sure what happened, and since it's been a few I'm sure he's out by now. Whatever you do, know your rights and be safe. There is only one of you and you don't want to lose that.

Additional web resources and tips:

Jonathan I. Moore is a long-time hospitality employee and the founder of Crazy Hotel Workers. If you love (or hate) what he writes, please let him know by emailing him: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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