When dispatched to a robbery of a home or a business, the first concern of responding police officers should be a tactical approach that emphasizes the safety of both police officers and victims. When approaching a reported robbery in a squad car, police officers should be aware of persons and vehicles leaving the area. Assisting police officers in the area should also be alert for vehicles described by complainants and suspicious vehicle behavior. In many cases, robberies are low-budget operations and perpetrators often drive older vehicles with distinctive damage and other visible identifying characteristics. Police officers should be aware that lone suspects entering robbery scenes on foot often have accomplices nearby and should also maintain the integrity of the robbery scene. Witnesses represent one of the most crucial elements of a robbery investigation. Proper handling of physical evidence at the robbery scene is critical as well. In the event that a strong robbery suspect is located and detained shortly after the crime, proper procedures become a priority. Awareness of robbery strategies, crime scene maintenance, information gathering, and suspect encounter techniques are skills and tasks that place responding police officers in a pivotal position in robbery investigations. 2 photographs