Woman allegedly held at gunpoint in ATM robbery attempt
A woman was reportedly held at gunpoint Sunday while using an ATM machine at the Bank of America on Foothill Boulevard in La Cañada, although the suspect left without taking any money, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department officials.
At around 2:30 p.m., the victim was attempting to deposit $45 in cash into her bank account when she was approached from behind by an unknown man, Lt. Randy Tuinstra, watch commander for the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station, reported Wednesday.
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“He came up behind her and put a gun to her back,” Tuinstra said, adding that the woman reported hearing a sound like the slide of a gun being racked. “He asked her for her balance, and she quickly canceled the transaction so he couldn’t see the balance.”
The ATM transaction cancellation caused the $45 to be ejected from the machine, and the woman offered the money to the suspect, the watch commander said. The man refused the money and instead made a hasty exit from the area to a vehicle deputies are describing as a white, older model Toyota with red paper plates from Bob Smith Toyota in La Crescenta.
Tuinstra confirmed that Bank of America was closed when the incident occurred, and said a detective from the Crescenta Valley station planned to contact bank management to access and review any video surveillance footage that may aid the investigation. In the meantime, he advised residents to be careful when making transactions outside a bank.
“Check your surroundings as you walk up to an ATM. Even when you are using it, continue to look over your shoulders to know if someone is near you,” he advised. “There are typically little wide angle mirrors on the ATMs, which are good for seeing if someone is approaching — if a potential suspect thinks you saw him, he may reconsider committing that crime.”
Anyone with information into Sunday’s attempted robbery is asked to call the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station at (818) 248-3464.
