Gun accessibility when counting out money at work

Y

YounGun24

New member
One of the main reasons for getting my CCW permit is because of my job. I've been working part-time at a local coffee shop in a city of 300,000+ for the last year and a half. We don't have horrible crime rate, but we do have our fair share of crime (especially robberies).

The establishment where I'm employed has about 10 employees working 3 shifts two at a time: AM, Afternoon, and Evening. We generally close at 10pm weeknights and 11pm weekends. 95% of the time, I work the closing shift, usually with one of the girl employees, but sometimes with one of the other 2 guys. When we close, it usually takes us 30-45 minutes to count the money, do dishes, etc. before we can lock up and go home. So for example tonight we close at 11, but we probably won't get out until 11:30-11:45pm. During this time, we are encouraged not to "kick" the customers out, but rather give them the impression that we're closing so they can pack up their laptops and things and leave. The hints we give them are things like turning the lights off (except the kitchen area), turning off the radio, turning off the big neon "Open" sign at the door, you know, subtle things like that. :D

However, we do not lock the doors, that way they can leave. I hate this policy of not kicking out customers, as it's a secruity risk we take. It would be very easy to rob us, especially since there's only two of us, one usually washing dishes, and the other counting the safe and registers. Usually, I'm the one counting the money, which takes about 20-25 minutes, including counting out the credit/debit card transactions. During this time, we keep one of the double doors locked, but the other unlocked so customers can leave. Sometimes a few friends of the other employee will come in after we've "closed" and hang out while we're cleaning/counting until we lock-up. Usually I don't mind becuase the girls I'm working with have nice friends and from a tactical standpoint, strength in numbers is good, and if there's a bunch of people inside, a robber would hopefully be deterred.

However, when the friends of the other employees start bringing other people with them to hang out while I'm back at the desk handling several thousand dollars in cash. :eek: , I tend to get uneasy, especially when some of them eyeball all the money I have through the doorway.

WOW, all that to say: I usually carry IWB under my cooking apron (which I keep tied down around my waist rather than around my neck). When I'm sitting at the back with my apron on, it is very difficult to draw my gun. I was thinking about during that 20 minute time-frame where I'm boxed in at a desk facing away from the doorway to the shop (with my only advantage being a monitor on the desk showing me the securitycamera views of the shop including the doorway), maybe I should keep my gun on the desk so that if a BG ever tries to rob us, I won't have to stand up and go digging under my apron. Should I just keep it on the desk for an easy access, or am I being too paranoid?
 
Not knowing all that is available, . . . but trying to help, . . . how about closing and locking the door? Not the outside door, . . . the one to the office where you are counting out the money. That would be my first choice.

Secondly, . . . I would probably have (I'm right handed) the office set up so my left shoulder would be towards the door. My firearm would either be on my lap, . . . or to my right under a folded newspaper.

Is there any chance of talking to the local LEO's with the idea that they do a drive through the parking lot at or about 11:15? Most bg's steer clear of places that seem LEO friendly, . . . and somehow, . . . they seem to know which ones those are.

And no one, . . . would know I had my weapon. I have often cringed at the thought of someone who knows I carry, . . . getting into a situation, . . . looking at me and asking if I have my gun, . . . or worse, . . . telling me to shoot the bg.

Best wishes, . . . may God bless,
Dwight
 
Sadly, there is no door to the office. if you were to walk in through the front door and come up to the counter, you could look over the counter through the doorway into the kitchen, where there is a desk in the corner by the safe (behind the freezers). Like I said, people can be at the counter, and see me counting money (can't see the desk or what's on the desk, because of a small partition), but they can see me sitting there with large amounts of cash in my hands. Literally, someone could pull a gun at the counter and have a clear shot at me sitting at the desk. That's why having to stand and go for the gun under my apron isn't possible. It needs to be right there.
 
I decided to draw a rough layout of the shop so you can kind of visualize where I'm at, and how open I am.
courtyardcoffee.jpg
 
Get a mirror and put it on or above the desk positioned so you can see who/what is behind you. As Dwight said keep the gun in your lap or on the desk out of sight. Having the local PD cruise the parking lot and maybe come in for a free cup of coffee ;) is also a good idea.
 
Any store that I've ever been in, including the one I worked at over the summer, had doors that locked but still opened from the inside. We would lock the door 10 minutes till closing time. This allowed customers to exit, but not to enter. I would encourage your boss/owner to install this type of door lock, especially if counting large amounts of money is involved.
 
Counting out money in sight of the public is STUPID.

Get a door installed, or create a private area not visible to the public.

Do you carry a wad of cash to the bank in the open?
 
While I appreciate the suggestions telling me to install doors, please make a note that I do not own this place. It's a part time job. I do plan to have a talk with the owner about making some modifications (esp. the policy of letting people in after hours.) I would rather lock up completely, and not worry about having to do closing procedures in secret.
 
If you are really this worried and no changes are possible to increase security, have you thought of changing jobs ?
 
Hook 686 stated;
If you are really this worried and no changes are possible to increase security, have you thought of changing jobs ?
Click to expand...
There's a lot of things you could do if it were your place, but it's not. It's not a CEO position. If the owner won't secure the place, he/she probably won't do much else for you.
A part time job factored into your CCW???
NOT a dig on LEO's here, but people are people. I managed a pizza place a thousand years ago, going to school. I often gave the local cops a small slice when they'd come by. Not a "bribe", I did it for the postman too. more of a "thanks for being around" deal. BTW - it was the owner who started this. It was nice to have them park in front of the place at night. Going for the bank drop? make a call & they were there in five. This would probably be frowned upon today.
Why not leave a bleachy, stinky mop out front smelling up the place after closing? Turn up the lights, play some annoying music, and talk about your grandma's foot operation.
What really frightens me is those friends of other employees you speak of. That's a huge risk.
You stated;
However, when the friends of the other employees start bringing other people with them to hang out while I'm back at the desk handling several thousand dollars in cash.
Click to expand...
That'd get to anyone. You need a trip to the bank drop - NOT a drop safe, when there's more than a thousand in the store. That's like walking up to a clown holding a squirt bottle and asking for water.
 
Here's how I see things....

Closing time is CLOSING TIME.
It's not the time for folks to be hanging around for a chat.

I would not count any money until every single customer is out, and the doors are locked.

Another good idea is to count out most of your drawer about three to four hours before closing time, and then have a police escort travel with you (or a coworker) to a bank night deposit box.
That way, at closing time, you will have alot less to cash on hand.
 
You have given enough hints that I have a good idea of your exact location of work ;)

I would advise againse leaving a gun anywhere visible in the open, because it would allow others to know about you having a gun, and also it would not be in your full control.
 
At the very least count it in the corner of the kitchen not visible from the shop (diagonally from the desk) if the walls you drew are 'solid' (as in not glass).
 
The owners idea of letting people be in the building after business hours is a terrible security risk. You should really talk to him about it. Anywhere I worked as a young person where I was in charge of counting/depositing cash, when it was closing time, ALL customers were politely told it was time to go, ALL entrances/exits were locked securely, and physically double checked, and then and only then did the money come out, the till/safe come open, ect.

You need to think of your own safety. Anyone who knows how this place operates knows how easy it is to rob you.
 
Mopping the floor with a mixture of ammonia and bleach (tiny amounts it is very poisonous to inhale the fumes) will get everybody out. I do not advise this.... but saw a frustrated busboy clear a Denny's in about ten minutes with this technique.

Personally I think you are right to evaluate your situation. Sounds to me like a quicker access to your defense tool might be a good idea. I too have worked for those without a clue about security. Seems like in our current world nobody thinks it will happen to them. Usually they are right.

Take comfort in the fact that you have a legal means of defense and keep analyzing your situation as you have here. Make a plan. A mediocre plan assertively implemented will work better than a great plan executed poorly.
 
move the desk to the other side if the kitchen where it is hidden from view of the general public in the dining area. if they can't see the money and you have a monitor to see their activity you should have plenty of time to draw if need be
 
Depending on what you're carrying, it sounds like an ankle holster might be an option. Then at least you can speed up your draw without having to worry about leaving the gun in plain sight.

Can you rotate the desk 180°?
 
Perldog007 stated;
Mopping the floor with a mixture of ammonia and bleach (tiny amounts it is very poisonous to inhale the fumes) will get everybody out.
Click to expand...
How right you are (personal experience), but who's going to empty that bucket???
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top