Multiple bank robberies are occurring in California on a daily basis, but robberies are not such common occurrences in other States. The banking community should not wait for unpleasant situations to arise before they become 'bullish' on bank security. Because bank robbers research their targets, a bank can discourage a robbery by giving the impression of preparedness, alertness, and confidence. People protection planning should address executive protection, extortion procedures, morning-opening procedures, and a silent-alarm response plan. The morning ambush, in which robbers wait inside the bank while it is being opened by the first employee to arrive, can be thwarted by careful planning. For example, employees should be assigned the opening duty on a random rotating schedule; should arrive at different times; and they should drive around the bank's perimeter looking for signs of suspicious activity. Once inside the bank, employees should inspect areas where someone could be hiding; if no one is found, other employees may be signalled to enter. Employees should also be instructed in the silent-alarm response plan, which should allow the alarm to be set off while the robbery is still in progress. Banks must act to remove the initiative from the robber and to assist in setting him up for capture.