Sample Scenario: Off-Duty Officer and Armed Robbery

An off-duty officer from a neighboring jurisdiction enters a liquor store to purchase beer. He approaches the front counter with money in hand. The officer gets in line behind several customers to pay for his beer. There are what appear to be two employees behind the counter, a male and a female. The officer reaches the counter and hands the female employee his money. As the female returns his change, the officer instinctively senses danger. He could not articulate it at the time, but he knew something was wrong, and he knew the situation was dangerous. The other customers were behaving in what appeared to be a normal manner, yet the officer's sense of uneasiness continued. As the officer was exiting the store, he made an observation that led him to believe that the store was being robbed. He entered his vehicle, used his cell phone to call 911, and reported a robbery-in-progress. The officer exited his vehicle, took a position of cover, and waited. His suspicions were confirmed when he observed two male subjects hastily exit the store and enter a nearby alley. The subjects entered a vehicle and left the scene. The officer followed in his personal vehicle. The officer again telephoned 911 and supplied additional information to the dispatcher. Uniformed police vehicles surrounded the suspect vehicle and removed the suspects. Recovered from the vehicle were two handguns and a large sum of money in a brown paper bag. Both suspects were transported to the liquor store where the female cashier positively identified them. Both suspects were arrested and charged with armed robbery.

What observations did the officer initially make that caused him to intuitively sense this potentially dangerous situation? Why were the other customers in the store unaware of the potential danger? And finally, what observations did the officer make as he was exiting the store that led him to believe that the gut feeling he was experiencing was actually a robbery in progress?

Upon reflection, the officer stated he made the following observations while inside the liquor store.

Although the store was crowded, the female employee seemed unusually hurried in her interactions with customers.
The female employee made more eye contact with the male behind the counter than with the customers.
The female employee's conversation with customers was very limited, and she spoke only when necessary.
The female employee's facial expressions appeared to express concern.
The male behind counter did not assist the female with customers even though the store was very busy.
The male behind the counter did not speak at all.
The male subject focused his attention upon the actions of the female employee more than on any of the customers.
The male subject was wearing a jacket even though it was very warm.
The male stood with one hand under the jacket, a position that did not change.
The cash drawer of the register was open and the female was making transactions without ringing up the sales.
As the officer turned away from the counter, he observed a male subject standing inside the store near the front door. (This same subject was present when the officer entered; however, the officer did not initially see him as a threat.) This subject appeared to be making direct eye contact with the male subject behind the counter.
The subject at the front door was wearing a parka-type sweatshirt on a very warm day and was sweating.
As the officer stepped in front of the subject near the front door to exit, he said "excuse me" and the subject never made eye contact with the officer. He seemed overly concerned with scanning the area outside the store and glancing back towards the counter.
One of this subject's hands was also beneath his parka.