The Starbucks security team's mantra: Protect people. Secure assets. Enable mission.

One tidbit from this article: Future enhancements call for furniture designed to help Starbucks customers protect their handbags and laptops. Hmmm... how might that work? (InfoWorld Nederland)

Comments

[the_dmr]

Here are some ideas,
~~Dont do "Cash Handling Tests" in 24hr stores. Having to par tills between Midnight and 2am, means I am in the back and the barista is alone on the floor

~~If above statement is required, two partners from 10pm Friday till 4am Saturday over a holiday weekend, puts us at risk.

~~Dont put the safe right next to the drive thru window

~~re-think the idea of cafe and drive thru 24hr stores.

~~Dont allow people to walk thru drive thru at 4am. We are not supposed to accept them but SM insists "just say yes" (tis a shame she wasnt the one peppered sprayed)

~~ Enforce that RTD&E products cant be opened/used in drinks by partners. BRM says we cant manager says "Just Say Yes"

Protect the partners and protect the guests. Most important protect "US" (baristas and such) from "YOU" (corporate, DM's RD's and such)

I have a feeling that Starbucks is going to start charging for "sitting" due to the security systems for the guests.

[BaristaGirl]

((Dont allow people to walk thru drive thru at 4am. We are not supposed to accept them but SM insists "just say yes" (tis a shame she wasnt the one peppered sprayed)))

That's one "Just Say Yes" that you SM CAN NOT APPROVE. It's a huge risk, and I personally would refuse & call HR if necessary.

How about the patio furniture is redesigned? Those rickety metal tables just don't cut it. Maybe some sturdy wooden furniture? Even if it takes two of us to take it out...

[Zhairista]

This is particularly topical..

A few days ago, one of the stores in my district got robbed at gunpoint, during opening. Fortunately, the partners and customers were all unharmed, but we did lose the money, and I'm sure it was positively terrifying (this is only a few blocks from my store *and* from where I live, and it's a fine neighborhood!)

Has this ever happened to anyone else? How did you deal with robbery, armed or otherwise? What do you wish you had done that you didn't?

[Mr.Dazzle]

I think it is very amusing when our security people talk to us over the intercom whenever someone enters a wrong alarm/safe code. Just today, we had two police cars outside our store in a matter of minutes when my SS entered the wrong safe key. Security tried talking to us over the intercom, but due to blenders, etc. we didn't hear them or respond, so they dispatched the police. It made me feel very safe working in my store, knowing that our activity is closely monitored.

Between several security cameras, electronic safes, alarms and a direct audio connection with our security hub and the police department, I feel as if I am in good hands.

Also, when being robbed, I think the "just say yes" policy applies more than ever!!!

[cornfrost]

Apparently they are considering chairs with a back shaped like an upside-down U, so you can't hook your handbag over the back.

I think they also sometimes have hooks beneath the tables, so you can hang your bag from the hook (and maybe prop it on your knees?).

Dunno about the laptop-saving furniture, though.

[Tall Drip]

Some stores just close way too late. My regular store (kinda suburban, on a very busy main traffic artery) stays open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. I just don't think this is necessary....they aren't making that much more money in the last couple hours of business to be worth the added risk. I don't see any good reason to have them getting out of the store after the closing procedure, after 1AM. Does Starbucks really *need* to stay open as long as it does?

I can understand certain locations staying open late, in busy all-night entertainment districts...but other than that, I think your stores should have reasonably modest hours.

[James UK]

Talking of the Starbucks tables / furniture, I always thought it would be a good idea to have some sort of set-up where each table had a number of 3.5mm headphone jacks on them or around the edges.

What with everyone having mp3 players these days, and therefore carrying headphones, you could ditch the horrible, loud background "muzak", and instead offer a selection of "radio" stations, akin to that which you get on areoplanes etc. SBs could even sell "logo-ed" headphones and the like.

I'm not saying how practical it'd be, but just something I'd like to see.

And yes, I agree about the crappy metal tables. In my local SBs, all the tables wobble badly, and need propping with a wad of napkins! ;-)

[Lou Sussler]

Whats RTD&E?

Returned and ???

[D]

Tall Drip: I often visit one of those locations and am very thankful that it is one of the few things that stay open. I have not thought about them being robbed before, and that sucks, but there is a point in them staying open -- it improves the brand by going a little further than everyone else (at least it does for me.)

[D]

Lou Sussler: According to Google, RTD&E stands for Research Testing Development and Evaluation

[PhillySM]

RTD&E stands for ready to eat and drink...it's the bottled drinks in the bottom of the pastry case.

RTD&E - Ready To Drink & Eat

Zhairista - Are you in Florida? We had a store in my district that had the same thing happen. I definitely say that everyone should be reviewing the Security policies with all partners because of this.

[equal among equals]

A store near mine had a cinder block thrown through the window in the middle of the night, much of the merchandise and equipment was stolen. The official starbucks response? leave the lights on at close. Now the bulbs just burn out more quickly.

[Zhairista]

Unknown partner: No, I'm up in San Francisco proper (within the City itself). We all received a memo about security policy and signed off on it, along with some tips to help smooth over the situation should it occur (as well as tips on how to take down details to give the police).

[manypeople]

To the scumball, gangbanger, douchebag that stole our tip jar yesterday... a pox on you and a curse on your wretched children, for every cent you stole may you have a hundred sorrows you lousy excuse for a human being.

[starbucks biggest spender]

my suggestion is get the tables with the holes in it so you can lock your laptop to it,

ive seen this at many places in downtown seattle but not starbucks,

also also dont be stupid like most set up all there stuff when they get there then go wait in line for 10 min then come back and missing stuff, biggest suggestion is tables with hole hooks will not be done i read a memo from starbucks to much of a liability cuts dirty hooks getting cut by it and such,
i read a memo that they are looking to get signs of advice whats on them is to be seen by us all,

[Herman M.]

Ah, yes. The old set up my personal office and leave three thousand dollars worth of tech toys unsecured while I stand in line and order a drink with hearly no coffee flavor trick. I often wonder if they leave those assets alone in other settings, as well. Pappa needs a new Treo... (kidding)

[equal among equals]

ManyPeople,

My store has had a problem with theft of tips in the past. We got Velcro to affix the tip jar to the counter, and drop all the bills very frequently (we keep an open bag of tips in a drawer near the register, so the register partner can quickly grab the tips and "drop" them.) I know this is technically outside of the cash handling policy, but it is far safer than leaving a jar full of cash sitting on the counter. We do an actual tip drop to the safe any time the bag gets relatively full, normally twice a day.

As far as stealing tips goes, I don't know who can actually bring themselves to do that. To me it's worse than walking in and stealing merchandise. Stealing from the pockets of your hard working Baristas is far worse than stealing from a large corporate entity, in my opinion. I'm sorry for your loss, I would not tolerate that very well.

[nybaristar]

ManyPeople:
A trick I have seen work to catch a tip-stealer is cutting a hole in the bottom of the tip container. The container has to be heavy enough to be able to stay put with the hole in the bottom and it makes emptying it a little tricky, but it's worth it when someone tries to grab it and all the change falls out the bottom.

[starbucks biggest spender]

cant get anymore caught then the sound of change falling on the counter and floor and everyone looking at you,

Great Idea NYBARISTAR

[Ryan Ebelhar]

Someone stole our tip jar a few weeks back. A customer in the parking lot saw her run off with it and wrote the down the license plate number.

We called the police and they found the girl. She was 16 and living with her parents. Her parents forced her to return the jar, money, and make a $40 donation to the store.

Suffice to say tips were great that week :)

Definitely take the bottoms off of your tip jars! In my store we also affix them to the side of the register stand with velcro. Twice a day is not enough for doing tip drops - if there is enough to put under the counter, there is enough to do a drop. Tips in my store are conistently higher than neighboring stores (urban area with stores every two blocks) due to just a little effort around security. We protect the company's money with strict cash handling procedures; partner money is equally important so handle it just as systematically.

[Alonzo Pickett]

proeducation opinable compenetrate tricyclist afterripening accommodational autogram stewable
Cactus Quartz
http://scf-fs.usc.edu/

[jess]

okay so when they order tapes for security can they see what we cant see on the tv in our store or is it only what is on the screen?

[jess]

okay so when they order tapes for security can they see what we cant see on the tv in our store or is it only what is on the screen?

[jess]

okay so when someone orders tapes can you only see what we see on our tvs or can you see more then whats in the frame?