Courtesy RTO Online and the Colorado Association of Robbery Investigators

Preventing an Armed Robbery
Keep your front doors and windows clear of signs and posters to allow good, two way visibility. Employees can see suspicious persons outside. Passers-by and police can see inside.
Keep the outside of your business well lit at night.
Make sure your cash register area is clearly visible to outside observers.
Practice good cash control. Keep a minimum amount in your cash drawer and make regular drops into a safe.
Advertise outside that you keep a minimal amount of cash in the register and that you will not accept large bills.
Don't keep large bills under the cash drawer. If you don't have a safe, find a less obvious place to hide your extra cash until you go to the bank.
Use a safe that the clerk cannot open alone or that requires two keys. Post that fact conspicuously, including on the safe itself.
Use video camera surveillance and make it well known.
Always have at least two clerks working at night.
Vary your banking routine. Carry cash in a variety of ways - a lunch sack, attaché case, flight bag, pocket, etc. Money bags ar pretty obvious.
Vary the times and routes that you use to go to the bank.
Make deposits as often as possible, never less than once a day.
Be alert for "customers" who seem to be loitering or glancing around the store while appearing to shop or browse through a magazine.
Watch for suspicious persons outside the business - especially in parked cars and around telephone booths.
If you see someone who is acting suspicious inside or outside, call the police to have them checked out.
Two persons should be on hand at opening and closing times. 
At opening time, one person should enter the store and check to see if it has been disturbed.
Before closing, one person should check the office, back rooms and rest rooms to make sure no one is hiding inside.
Keep side and back doors locked. Have employees use the main entrance, if possible.
Place markers at the main entrance that employees can use to help gauge the height of a robber as he leaves.

 

What to do during a robbery
Try to stay calm. Don't make any sudden movements to upset the robber.
Do exactly as you are told. DO NOT RESIST!
Activate your alarm ONLY if you can do so secretly.
Tell the robber about anything that might surprise him, such as someone who is expected to arrive soon.
If you have to move or reach, tell the robber what you are going to do and why.
Try to get a good look at the robber so you can describe him later.
Don't be a hero. It's better to lose your money than your life.
Give the robber time to leave. 
Note his direction of travel when he leaves.
Try to get a description of his vehicle ONLY if you can do so without exposing yourself to harm.

 

What to do after a robbery
Call the police immediately, even if you have already activated the alarm.
Close the store and lock the door(s) if you have a key.
Do not discuss the details of the robbery with witnesses or fellow employees.
Ask any witnesses to stay until police arrive. If they can't, get their names, phone numbers and addresses.
Do not touch anything that the robber may have touched.  Block off areas where the robber was, if necessary.
Try to recall as much as you can about the robber's appearance, speech and mannerisms. Make notes.
Step outside the store when the police arrive so that they'll know the robber is gone and you are safe.
Let the police answer inquiries from the news media.
Do not discuss the amount of money taken with anyone other than police.