Police seek suspect in ATM conflict
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Pelham police received a call Tuesday notifying them that an attempted robbery had taken place around 1 p.m. at a Compass Bank ATM kiosk located in the parking lot of Southgate Village off U.S. 31 in Pelham.
A bank employee reported arriving to restock the ATM when a black male allegedly walked up behind her and demanded money. The employee secured herself inside the ATM, at which time the suspect fled the scene toward Hwy 261.
Police are looking for a black male about 6 feet tall and weighing 200 pounds with bushy hair and a goatee. The man was wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans at the time of the incident.
There was no monetary loss or injury to the bank employee, and police reports say that no weapon was used.
Although the bank worker was not harmed, Lt. Larry Palmer said anyone using an ATM should be cautious.
&8220;Anytime you do any banking like that you have to be really cognitive of your surroundings,&8221; Palmer said. &8220;Have your card ready, because the quicker you can make your transaction that&8217;s less opportunity for someone to intercept you.&8221;
Palmer said bank customers should also look around for people sitting in cars or standing near ATMs and wait to count their money when they are safely in their locked car, not when they are standing outside the ATM.
Police are still looking for the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Pelham Police Department at 620-6550.