Today, while watching the news, I saw an article about two 7-Eleven stores in Rosemead, an area with a large Chinese population east of LA, that were robbed in less than 30 minutes.

The store on the 7400 block of Garvey Avenue was hit first, and about 25 minutes later, a similar armed robbery occurred at the store on the 1300 block of San Gabriel Boulevard. Two individuals threatened the employees with firearms, and the police are investigating the possibility of the same suspects being involved.

This news reminded me of my past. I used to work at a 7-Eleven in Covina when I was a student.

Anyone who has worked in a convenience store knows that during the day, there's not much to think about, but after 11 or 12 at night, the atmosphere changes.

When the door opens and there are no customers, you naturally glance over. This is especially true when you're working alone.

I still remember what the store owner told me back then.

"If a robber comes in, never resist and just give them what they ask for."

It was commonly said among employees that 7-Eleven has insurance, so if a robbery occurs, they should just hand over the cash.

However, to be precise, this needs a bit more clarification. One cannot definitively state the current internal insurance contracts or the compensation conditions for all franchises from the outside.

Nonetheless, the principle of not resisting for cash when faced with a robbery is indeed the right direction.

The U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA also views late-night convenience stores that handle cash and operate with a single employee as high-risk environments for workplace violence.

As actual preventive measures, they suggest cash management devices like CCTV, bright lighting, protective barriers at the register, and keeping minimal cash in the register.

It makes sense when you think about it. There's no reason for a minimum wage employee to fight someone with a gun over a few hundred dollars in the register.

Cash and goods can be replenished, but if a person is injured or killed, there's no way to reverse that.

Business owners should be aware of insurance in this context.

The extent to which stolen cash or goods are compensated when a store is robbed varies based on the actual terms of the commercial property or crime-related insurance they have.

So the common saying, "7-Eleven has insurance, so they say to just give the robber all the money," is only partially true.

While cash and property losses can be handled through insurance or contractual compensation, not all stores are covered under a single uniform insurance policy for full compensation.

Moreover, the reason employees are advised not to confront armed robbers is not just because of the insurance money, but primarily because the safety of individuals takes precedence over cash.

If an employee gets injured, that's another issue. In California, any business that employs even one person is generally required to have workers' compensation insurance, which covers medical expenses and certain wage losses for injuries that occur on the job.

So, while the insurance that business owners need to consider and the safety issues employees need to think about are connected, they are not the same.

Business owners should not just stop at property insurance; they also need to check employee workers' compensation insurance, the coverage for robbery and theft, as well as CCTV, lighting, and cash management methods.

This is especially true for liquor stores, convenience stores, gas stations, and small restaurants that operate late at night.

When I was a student, I also thought lightly, "If a robber comes in, just give them the money."

Insurance is there to recover money, and safety protocols are there to save lives.

There's no need to become a hero over a few hundred dollars in the register when a robber comes in with a gun.

While there are ways to resolve money issues through insurance, there's no deductible or replacement for a human life.