The following article titled "How to live through a Robbery" and written by Francois Rank appearred in The Time on the 6th July 2008. It is based on interviews conducted by Rudolph Zinn, UNISA's senior lecturer in Police Practice, with 30 convicted robbers where he asked them what people should do to avoid violence when robbed in their homes.

How to live through a robbery by Francois Rank

Published: Jul 06, 2008

Taken from: http://www.thetimes.co.za/PrintEdition/News/Article.aspx?id=796711

UNISA’s senior lecturer in Police Practice, Rudolph Zinn, asked 30 convicted robbers what people should do to avoid violence when robbed in their homes:

Submit: Robbers expect submission when they point their firearm at you. Make no sudden movements and keep your hands where they can be seen at all times. Pleading for your life shows you have submitted and will not try to resist. Only raise your hands if you have been told to do so. Some robbers prefer you to remain still, in the position in which you were when first confronted.

Obedience: Listen carefully to the robbers’ instructions and do precisely as ordered. This, together with making no sudden movements, not reaching for a weapon or panic button, showing no resistance, and making no noise, are the critical factors determining whether or not you and your family will remain unharmed.

Make no noise: Don’t scream. Most house robberies happen when people are at home and awake. This implies that the neighbours will be, too. The robbers do not want anyone alerted. “One of the respondents said: ‘If the victim makes noise, the house robbers become serious and will kill the victim,’ ” Zinn said.

Self-control: Remain still while they search you and speak when spoken to. Do not try to speak to others in the house with you — particularly not covertly.

Don’t make eye contact: Especially if the robbers aren’t disguised. If you are instructed to lie down or “sleep", do so and don’t look at them, as some robbers will kill the victim rather than risk being identified.

Show them where your valuables are: Refusing to divulge where valuables are kept in the house was the single most common reason given for victims being assaulted or tortured during a robbery.