Customers robbed while using drive-up ATM

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Two people hoping to get some quick cash turned into crime victims.

Police said they were robbed at gunpoint while using a drive-up ATM at the Chase Bank in the 3500 block of Lafayette Road over the weekend.

Police aren’t sure if both cases are related, however they happened two nights in a row around the same time.

Police said the customers were using the ATM around midnight. Investigators said the suspect came up from behind their cars and pulled a gun on them as soon as they finished getting their money.

Customers we talked with were shocked to hear people were robbed, especially since the bank has surveillance cameras all around the building. Two cameras are right above the ATM.

“It’s very like, traumatizing,” said customer Alicia Diaz, who had just finished using the ATM. “”You have to be on the lookout 24/7.”

Sgt. Kendale Adams with IMPD said, “If it’s absolutely, positively important that you go (to an ATM) at night, we would encourage you to go to an ATM that’s well lit, again traveling in (pairs) and look for an ATM that likely has a security camera.”

Sgt. Adams added that people should be observant as they approach an ATM.

He said if you see people milling around, not necessarily waiting to use the machine, maybe find another one. If you see people in a parked car nearby, keep an eye out or find another machine.

The suspect description in both cases wasn’t very detailed. One stated the suspect looked like a black man in his early 20’s, about 6’3 and 180 pounds. It stated he was wearing a black hoodie and blue jeans.

However both times the victims said the suspect ran westbound from the bank towards Pangea Cedars Apartments.

Anyone who thinks they saw a suspicious person in that area can call crime stoppers at 317-262-TIPS (8477).