(NZ) Victims warned to obey orders from armed robbers

New Zealand Herald ^ | 04.07.2002

[tarawa]

Victims warned to obey orders from armed robbers

04.07.2002 1.00 pm

Do not try to be a hero when confronted with armed robbers, police warned today.

Yesterday an armed robber fired a shot from his handgun as he and a security guard struggled over a bag of money on Auckland's North Shore.

The robber, who wore a rubber clown or carnival mask with white hair, had pointed a gun at the guard's head and demanded he hand over a bag of money at a shopping centre in Highbury, Birkenhead, on Auckland's North Shore.

The guard initially refused to hand over the bag but the robber won the struggle and fled with tens of thousands of dollars.

During the struggle the robber fired a shot, but no one was hurt.

Police said today the best rule for robbery victims was to do what they were told.

"I would say co-operate with armed offenders," said Detective Sergeant Karl Read.

Mr Read said he was not critical of the Armourguard man.

However, he said sometimes struggling with an offender who may not intend harm, or failing to do what they were told "upped the ante".

"But there is nothing you can do about a person who is hell-bent on doing harm."

Other rules businesses handling money could follow included:

* avoid developing a routine when handling and taking money to a bank so robbers could not see a pattern; and

* count money out of the public's sight so the public could not identify who would do the banking.

[tarawa]

I thought we had already disproved this whole theory...... Maybe the whole September 11th attack hasn't made the news in NZ yet.

[Khepera]

What if the criminal just likes to shoot people for fun, what then?

[anymouse]

Well the perp had a gun barrel to the head of the (not so observent) security guard. At that point, resisting is pretty foolhearty.

Of course the NZ cops' blanket statment to not resist robbers is pretty dumb too.

Don't worry all of NZ terrorists are in Florida training to be pilots. LOL :(

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

There is a really excellent book called "Life at the Bottom: The Attitude that makes the Underclass", by Theodore Dalrymple (a pseudonym for a well-known British prison psychiatrist). It addresses the explosion of crime in Britain, and also contains a half-chapter on the terrific increase in violent crime in New Zealand (which we tend to view as a peaceful, bucolic place).

I recommend this book to anyone interested in the real causes of crime, "homelessness", drug abuse, and other social pathologies. A very good writer, with a remarkably clear-headed view of the problem.

[P7M13]

Silly Kiwis

Those with the guns, make the rules

[Billthedrill]

But there is nothing you can do about a person who is hell-bent on doing harm.

Well, that's just the point - the robber in question wasn't intent on killing anyone, but some are very much so. Obeying the latter gets you just as dead as resisting. Shooting the SOB solves the problem either way.

[Dakmar]

PoliceThe government said today the best rule for robbery victims everyone was to do what they were told.

[Khepera]

Oh yea, now I see it. Dang, slipped by me there for a second.

[Freedom2specul8]

FYI

[Freedom2specul8]

fyi!

[lowbridge]

Belles bump

[Don Myers]

The job of this guy is to provide security for money. He is criticised when he does that. This world is getting flakier and flakier, or, is that "more flaky?"

[M. Thatcher]

Translation: OPEN SEASON ON THE "LAW-ABIDING" IN NEW ZEALAND.

[Timesink]

I thought we had already disproved this whole theory...... Maybe the whole September 11th attack hasn't made the news in NZ yet.

They have not. A month or so ago I was listening to Radio New Zealand International on my shortwave radio. They were relaying the national radio network at the time, their BBC equivalent I suppose. It was a news program, and near the end some Well Respected Journalist came on to give a commentary, and I flabbergasted by his comments. Basically, his comments boiled down to "Unlike the arrogant, meddling-in-everyone-else's-affairs Americans, we peaceful New Zealanders mind our own business, and thus have absolutely nothing to fear about ever being a target for terrorists, be they Islamist or of any other stripe. Isn't it great that we are a wonderful, superior people living in a wonderful, superior nation?"

I wanted to throw my radio out the window. When their day comes, I won't be crying. (No offense to NZ Freepers.)

[facedown]

Dopes - their flight 93 would hit their capitol...

[golder]

The job of this guy is to provide security for money. He is criticised when he does that. This world is getting flakier and flakier, or, is that "more flaky?"

I'm getting sick to death of this, "roll over and play dead" mentality. I fear this lemming mentality is in the marrow of society. To be a bit trite, "put a fork in us, we're done."

[blackie]

An Armed Citizen, Is A Safe Citizen !!

Guns Save Lives !!

No Guns, No Rights !!

Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!

Molon Labe !!

[weegee]

Why does NZ have cops at all? Just have investigators who take statements and collect evidence after crimes.

No need to have offices patrol attempting to "prevent" or "interrupt" crimes. Just let the perp do his "job" and pursue him later. < /sarcasm >

This surrendering to criminals sounds like a French concept.

[pragmatic]

Refusing to cooperate when someone literally has a gun at your head (like the security guard) is a little stupid. Do as you are told, and then nail him as soon as he averts his eyes.

[mushroom]

Surely it wasn't a handgun that the robber had! It must have been a stick or something. After all, its not legal to own a handgun in New Zealand is it?