Food delivery drivers learn to avoid robberies

The biggest thing for pizza delivery drivers to remember when they venture out into neighborhoods is that if they feel like something is wrong, they are probably right.

Second, and just as important, is that they should have a plan on how to react should they unfortunately become a victim of crime.

Those two items were the biggest things for about 30 drivers to take home with them at a food delivery safety seminar given by New Castle County and Delaware State police Thursday, Aug. 19 at the Season’s Pizza off North DuPont Highway.

Criminals have robbed 16 food delivery drivers in New Castle County since January and there were 31 such robberies last year, as more people feel desperate during these economic times, New Castle County Senior Sgt. Claudine Malone said. That is an alarming trend that prompted Malone to create the class for drivers.

Her first seminar drew exactly one driver to New Castle County headquarters, so Malone decided to take her show on the road. She discussed it with the Season’s Pizza she frequents as a customer, and General Manager Ricardo Ardila agreed to host the session.

“I think the company can really get a lot out of this,” Ardila said.

Malone, New Castle County Officer John Weglarz and Delaware State Police Master Cpl. Jeffrey Hale conducted the seminar.

Among the list of 21 tips for drivers, Malone urged them to make frequent money drops at their restaurant. The less money a driver has on him, the less likely he is to be a target the next time.

Malone and Hale discussed the importance of any robbery victim to be the best witness he can be. Note specific details about the assailant, such as sex, height, weight, clothing, hair color, hairstyle, the specific type of gun he used and the phrases he used during the robbery. They urged drivers to not be politically correct either, when reporting such details to the police.

“Don’t just tell us, ‘It was two black guys wearing T-shirts,’” Hale said. “That’s probably half the guys in school. Look for any writing on the T-shirt. Something about that person will stick out.”

Added Malone: “It could be the scar the guy had across his face. If the guy had an accent, tell us those things.”

Another thing people can do to prevent being a victim of crime is to maintain eye contact with people and to walk with a purpose, showing them that you are aware of your surroundings, Hale said.

“When I’m in the mall with my family, I look at everybody walking by – not just girls,” Hale said, drawing laughter. “Stare somebody down. It makes them uncomfortable. That makes you less likely to be a victim.”

The tips are good not just for drivers, but for the public in general, Malone said.

“We need to get it into people’s heads that they can be reporters to the police,” she said. “Maybe they’ll pay attention to the pizza delivery guy down the street.”

Greg Sacks, 29, a driver for the New Castle Season’s Pizza, asked officers whether it was a good idea to keep the headlights of his car on when he parks in a neighborhood at night. They said yes because it attracts attention of people, including those who could turn out to be crucial witnesses.

“It was helpful,” Sacks said afterward. “There were a few things I didn’t know before, like making a plan ahead of time. It’s pretty much logic, if you think about it.”