Man Flees Attempted ATM Robbery

Alabama Mobile Mobile Police are looking for suspects that attempted to rob man at an ATM on Hillcrest Road.

by Mobile Police Department News Release

Published: Thu, July 31, 2008 - 12:51 am CST Last Updated: Thu, July 31, 2008 - 1:50 am CST

As some have already seen or heard, an e-mail was sent by a concerned citizen describing the robbery of her son while he was at the drive-up ATM of the Regions Bank, located at 891 Hillcrest Road. While some of the facts in the forwarded e-mail are accurate others are not. The Mobile Police Department did not become aware of the incident until late Tuesday afternoon, when the message was forwarded to members of the department. The victim did not make a report when the incident occurred. Since that time, officers have spoken with the victim and competed an official report for the incident.

Investigators from the Mobile Police Department’s Robbery Unit have determined that on July 26, 2008, at approximately 11:15 p.m. the victim was making a withdrawal from the drive-up ATM. As he was conducting the transaction, he observed a subject in a white mask that appeared to be armed with a handgun approaching his vehicle from behind. The victim was able to take his money from the ATM and accelerate away before the subject got to his window. However, a second masked subject struck his windshield with an unknown item causing damage as he was fleeing the scene. The victim did not sustain any injury as a result.

Although neither of the subjects made any demands, it appears their intention was to commit a robbery. A still photos of the masked subject is attached. Anyone with additional information about this incident is asked to contact robbery investigators through the Mobile Police Department’s non-emergency number at 208-7211 or Crimstoppers at 208-7000.

Listed below is the original e-mail in its entirety. The sender’s contact information has been withheld.

This past saturday night, my son Jake, was robbed at gunpoint at the regions bank on Hillcrest Road. This was at 9:30 in the evening. He had pulled up to the ATM, which is a drive-thru, put in his debit card and keyed in his PIN #. He said at about this time he heard a commotion from behind his car. Looked in his rearview mirror and saw a man dressed completely in black with a white ski mask on his face running at his vehicle. He pointed the gun in Jake's face and told him to give him his money. Jake told him he only had $80 that he had just taken out of the bank. At that time another guy, dressed in the same thing, jumped on the front on his car and busted the windshield with a gun and told Jake to do as the other guy said. The first one was already taking more money out of the account. Jake was just asking them not to shoot him This all took place in less than a minute and they took off running back towards SportPlex. I am sure that some of you are familiar with that area and realize that, where the ATM is located, it is not AT ALL visible to Hillcrest Road.

I am not telling this story for sympathy, but for the safety of each of you, your friends and loved ones that you share this information with. We all have to be very aware of our surroundings at all times. I asked Jake today, now that he has had some time to think about it, if there was anything that he thinks he could have done different. His only response was.....not go to the bank. He didn't have time to think, but he did say that he thought he was going to die. He was just begging the guys not to shoot him. THANKFULLY, Jake is safe and only has to deal with the bank to recoup his loss and have a windshield replaced. This could have been a very bad situation. I could have been receiving a call from an officer with tragic news. The police didn't take fingerprints nor was it publicized by any media. This just kinda went un-noticed. These guys got away with it and I promise you....they will do it again. The next person may not be so lucky.

Pass this on to everyone you know.......and ALWAYS be aware of what is going on around you.

WKRG.com » News Stream » Alabama

Photo
Map

Regions Bank Surveillance Photo

WKRG.com Related

News –› Alabama

News –› Mobile

Discuss this in the forum

Email to a Friend

Printer Friendly

TM78 Says:

Thu, Jul 31, 2008 at 6:40 pm

The whole story sounds a little fishy to me…not saying that there weren’t masked gunmen. But why did he tell the police that he was able to drive away with his money, but he told his mom that he lost the initial $80 and the masked man made another withdrawal from the ATM. And why such a discrepancy in the time line? Sounds to me like Jake was lying to get money from mom or from the bank. Hey mom, you might want to check out some of the other stories your son may have told you.

Chellie28 Says:

Thu, Jul 31, 2008 at 2:14 pm

The question is why didn’t he report it…and why did he tell his mother a different story from what he told police?