The following comes from an article from FirstComp Insurance.  A full copy of the article can be found here.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has labeled the rise in workplace violence a significant public health issue, and they predict the increase will continue. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Census  of Fatal Occupational Injuries for 2008, assaults and violent acts claimed 794 lives in 2008 and represented 16% of the total 5,071 workplace fatalities in the United States. Homicides represented the majority of these violent acts, claiming 517 lives in 2008, or 10% of fatalities.

The following tips can help reduce the possibility of retail store armed robbery and protect the safety of employees and customers: 

• Keep windows clear of displays or signs and make sure your business is well-lighted inside and out.
• Check the layout of your store, eliminating any blind spots that may hide a criminal or robbery in progress. 
• Have marked money in your till and record the serial numbers on a cash identification sheet and place in a safe place.
•  Provide information about your security systems to employees only on a “need-to-know” basis.
•  Make sure that all video security is working properly if you are still using video tape make sure that the tapes are new.
•  Instruct your employees to report any suspicious activity or person immediately and write down any useful information (clothing, age, vehicle description, license plate number) for future reference.
•  Keep small amounts of cash in the register to reduce losses. Use a drop safe into which large bills and excess cash are dropped by employees and cannot be retrieved by them. Post signs alerting would-be robbers of this procedure.
•  Make bank deposits often and during business hours. Don.t establish a pattern; take different routes at different times during the day.
• What to do if you are robbed  Try to remain calm.
•  Robbers are usually very nervous and could be easily provoked
•  Obey the robbers commands do exactly as you are told. DO NOT RESIST!
•  Tell the robber if you are going to move or if you expecting someone that is coming to your business.
•  Activate your alarm ONLY if you can do so secretly.
•  Try to be the best witness you can be, take a good look at the robber so you can describe him or her later.
•  Don’t be a hero. It’s better to lose your money than your life.
•  Give the robber time to leave.
•  Note his or her direction of travel when he or she leaves.
•  Try to get a description of his vehicle ONLY if you can do so without exposing yourself to harm.
• After the robber leaves  Act as a team, divide tasks between all employees on duty.
•  Call the police immediately, even if you have already activated the alarm. Don.t hang up the phone.
•  Close the store and lock all entrances if possible. Hang a premade closed sign.
•  Do not discuss the details of the robbery with witnesses or fellow employees.
•  Ask any witnesses to stay until police arrive. If they can’t, get their names, phone numbers and addresses.
•  Do not touch anything that the robber may have touched. Block off areas where the robber was, if necessary.
•  Try to recall as much as you can about the robber’s appearance, speech and mannerisms. Make notes.
•  Step outside the store when the police arrive so that they’ll know the robber is gone and you are safe.
•  Let the police answer inquiries from the news media.
•  Do not discuss the amount of money taken with anyone other than police.