blue print of a heist..

We view ourselves as potential victims, and the acceptance that such event could happen to anyone at any point helps us recognize the risks. Among ten casualties in the tragic RCBC Cabuyao rob-murder case, is an unwitting client who sadly figured into a "wrong place and a wrong time" fate and it cost him his life.

For awhile we reflect on this reality, and realign ourselves in the mindset of these criminals so as to have a pinch of their thoughts in pulling out the heist. A professional robbery group intends to succeed in operation and considers some important aspects in coming up with their blue print.

1. Motive. The cost of the pot at stake and the benefits.

2. Resources. Assessment of resources, size-up capabilities, manpower, logistics, hardware and mobility to perpetrate the crime.

3. Targeting. Robbers generally look out for soft targets and consider a dozen of factors in selection, carefully taking into account all the "risk factors, against percent of success."

4. Surveillance Phase. Could take weeks months and maybe even a year depending on the nature of their target. Most exhaustive of all their activities, the group conducts discreet observation of the target, walk-through's and may even perform actual penetration tests. The stage where robbers tend to draw out bank's security capabilities, weaknesses, patterns, personalities, insider candidates, office routines and money movements.

5. Dry Runs. Robbers perform dry runs, silent rehearsals of the actual cycle of the robbery and how they exactly intend to execute the heist. Most importantly, this could mean prior presence inside the bank before the "d' day"..

6. Escape and Disposition. Their movement in the execution of escape route plans. Identification of multiple alternative sites, safe areas, modes, their probability of escape and the disposition of the loot.

7. Time and Motion. Robbers assess the probability of success in every operation and it is in this stage where the actors perform a simulated drill, rehearse every scene of the actual robbery and considers time element as the most crucial factor to rate success.