It’s been a tough week in retail.
Yesterday in Carson City, NV, at a local IHOP restaurant, a gunman killed four people and wounded seven others before committing suicide. Three of the victims were uniformed members of the Nevada National Guard. According to witness reports, the gunman fired several rounds inside the IHOP, and then drove around the strip center parking lot aimlessly firing at stores. Police said the man might have a history of mental illness.
On Friday evening in Aurora, CO, a Walmart was robbed by two suspects. While fleeing the store, one of the suspects shot at a security officer patrolling the parking lot. Thankfully nobody was injured.
Last Tuesday night a Target store in Peachtree City, GA, was robbed at gunpoint by two men. While employees were closing the store, employees were forced to open cash registers. (They have video available.)
These are isolated incidents but tragic and scary for employees, customers and the community. While retail stores and shopping centers are safe, incidents do occur even in the nicest of neighborhoods.
In March, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) made a free online active shooter training program available called “Active Shooter: What You Can Do.” To coincide with the DHS program, we updated the NRF “Active Shooter” white paper with basic guidelines retailers of all sizes can implement. Many companies use the guidelines as a part of their larger emergency management plan to protect employees and customers.