The Gibbons group of companies have established sweeping changes to its security operations in the wake of last month's brash daylight robbery at one of its liquor stores.

Eighteen managers, sales representatives and clerks spent 90 minutes with two detectives from the crime prevention unit of the Bermuda Police Service yesterday morning.

They watched a 15-minute video showing a simulated robbery at a bank that featured actors which was used as a springboard into a general discussion about crimes of violence using local examples.

Sgt. Chris Wilcox and P.c. Darrin Simons led the discussion.

"The robbery shook up the whole company and they are keen not to see it repeated,'' Sgt. Wilcox explained.

"They have already taken steps to increase security. The video was really a semi-documentary that used actors, footage and interviews from survivors of actual robberies.

"We covered things like opening and closing of the business, depositing money and suggestions on how to handle the stress of being robbed and afterwards when the robber is no longer on the scene.

"We also looked at how to give descriptions of suspects as well as alarm systems. There was time left for questions at the end.'' Sgt. Wilcox said that requests for this type of meeting with local firms have dwindled this year.

"This was the first one that I have been requested to do for some time,'' he continued. "(Yesterday's) meeting was a good one because it brought together managers who will then take the information and pass it on to their respective stores. We managed to get at a good cross section of this company.'' Gibbons Management Services real estate manager Brad Woodings said upper management urged him to contact the Bermuda Police Service's crime prevention unit.

"Business security, property security and robbery prevention were our main concerns,'' he said. "And as a result of the meeting we have now formulated a further security strategy for all the stores.'' Some of these plans are already in place and he said the other issues will be addressed within seven days. There were about 18 managers and sales representatives there, including Allan Marshall, the lone employee at the Burrows Lightbourn liquor store on Harbour Road in Paget that was robbed last month.

Mr. Woodings declined to discuss the specifics of the new security arrangements but The Royal Gazette has learned that cameras will be used extensively in all stores.

"I'd rather not discuss that,'' he said, "other than to say that we have heightened the security arrangements in all member stores.'' CRIME CRM BUSINESS BUC