ATMs and Situational Awareness - please share

[leadcounsel]

http://newsfeed.gawker.com/gunman-s..._source=gawker_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

Share with your loved ones. Reminder to have situational awareness.

Video clip shows a lone presumably unarmed woman at a drive up ATM in the dark morning hours. She takes too long and doesn't even notice a man approach from her rear (blind spot) on her driver side, circle around the ATM... he sticks a gun in her face, takes her money, and has her pop the trunk. She has missed opportunities to escape and instead cooperates and gets into the trunk. Then he drives away with her in the trunk. According to the article she luckily survived and was able to escape because the car was left abandoned 40 minutes later.

Looking at the clip, her first mistake was not more carefully observing her surroundings when she pulled in, and the choice of a dark ATM at night. Next if her head was on a swivel as it should be, she would have seen his approach and driven away. Lastly, she had a chance to attempt to run and escape when he put the ATM between them. Of course if she had a gun on her person she could have fought back.

It worked out okay for her but I'd say you should NEVER go along with someone to become a victim in a remote location.

 

[Plan2Live]

I saw that one. Thankfully she survived.

Drawing from my training as a NRA Refuse To Be A Victim instructor and prompted by the abduction and subsequent murder of Beverly Carter the Realtor in Arkansas, I recently gave a safety and awareness presentation to two groups of Realtors. The points from that presentation that apply here are as follows:

• Awareness and prevention are your best tools.
  
• Never relocate.
  
• All cars manufactured after the late eighties have emergency release mechanisms in the trunk. Know where yours is and….
  
• Always carry a small flashlight somewhere on your person other than on your key chain so you can locate the emergency release handle if you are placed in a trunk.
  
• All cell phones, even those without an active contract can be used to dial 911. Consider stashing an old cell phone (powered down to preserve battery life) in the trunk of your car.
  
• Consider stashing a small flashlight in the trunk of your car.
  
• Consider stashing a weapon in the trunk of your car.
  
• If placed in the trunk of a car, remove high heels and tight skirts that would hamper your ability to run when the chance presents itself. Keep sneakers or other running type shoe in your trunk.
  
• Establish codes words (panic words and safe words) with your office and family. Beverly Carter’s murderer used her cell phone to text her husband so he wouldn’t be suspicious of her absence.

Most of the Realtors in attendance were women and nearly all of them admitted that they had never thought through such a scenario.

 

[MedWheeler]

In addition to the above, circle the bank at least once before pulling up to the ATM. Do it nice and slow, like a cop on patrol. Look for anything out of place.

When using a walk-up ATM, do not leave your headlights on to shine at the machine. You may believe they'll add security by keeping your immediate surroundings lit up, but you won't see well past them as you return to your car. This can prevent you from noticing anyone standing alongside or behind the vehicle.

 

[Kleanbore]

Looking at the clip, her first mistake was not more carefully observing her surroundings when she pulled in, and the choice of a dark ATM at night.

Yep.

In addition to the above, circle the bank at least once before pulling up to the ATM. Do it nice and slow, like a cop on patrol. Look for anything out of place.

Yep!

When using a walk-up ATM, do not leave your headlights on to shine at the machine. You may believe they'll add security by keeping your immediate surroundings lit up, but you won't see well past them as you return to your car. This can prevent you from noticing anyone standing alongside or behind the vehicle.

We only go during daylight.

And we go in pairs--one stays alert in the driver's seat..

Watch for out-of-place equipment, also.

 

[Duster340]

Yep, shared it with my wife. She instantly replied, "The minute I saw the punk moving toward the car, I'd floor it out of there". We both agreed, scary stuff, and are happy the young lady was able to get away unharmed.

Be well all,

 

[RustyShackelford]

Duress codes, lights, knives, awareness....

I watched the clip & read the member posts.
There's a few good points made about how to avoid these types of incidents.
I agree that being diligent & looking for danger signs(especially at night or low light areas) is smart.
To have a ave of escape or room to move is smart too, .
If the subject was closer to the front of my SUV, Id gun it then hit him if required. If in injured or stun him, that would be enough.
To hide or cache security items in trunks isn't bad. Keeping a small white light or having flash lights in the vehicle is prudent. I like the Klakus line. Keychain styles are also handy. I have a small LED light/Streamlight handcuff key.

To have duress codes or phrases that can alert family members or spouses to danger is a good idea too.
Knives or emergency tools with glass breakers can help.

 

[X-Rap]

I don't understand why people use outdoor ATM's in the first place or any for that matter.
I've always been in the habit of keeping a stash of cash around so I haven't used one for more than activating my debit cards in many years.
So often here folks advise against going to places where bad things happen and I'd add ATM's to that list.
The advise so far give with regards to being prepared and having thought ahead about abduction and preparation is sound I would even add finding or mounting some sort of metal edge that tape or rope could be worked against if one is stuck in the trunk.
I preach to the women in my life that the worst thing that can happen is being confined and moved, sounds like the woman in the video got lucky and just got left.

 

[Mainsail]

Dude is the Zoolander of crooks:

"I call this one 'Blue Steal'".

That comment almost made the whole event worthwhile!

Seriously though, she had no fight in her, no sense of self-protection, no sense of awareness. Parked too far away from the machine. Could just have easily bought a pack of gum in the grocery with her debit and got $20 over.

My son and I have a running joke based on the question I would always ask him whenever he did something dumb; "Did you learn anything?" The joke is that he'd always say no, and I'd say, "Well I guess you'll be doing that again." The media will lose interest once the story is cold so we'll never know if she learned anything from this incident.

 

[leadcounsel]

The Blue Steel comment was funny.

I find it odd that he goes to great lengths to keep his finger prints off the door and steering wheel, but gives a nice long stare into the camera... Say cheese!

The insights about security here are good.

 

[rhinoh]

Most of the walk up ATMS around here have a glass enclosure with a door. I think that is a very stupid design- someone can trap you in there by blocking the door.
I'd prefer it all be open with just a roof, then you have multiple escape routes.

 

[RustyShackelford]

ATMs....

I agree that indoor or bank lobby ATMs are best. A large gas station/store chain put up about 12 new locations in my metro area in the last 24mo or so. They have fee free ATMs & are 24hr.
Id add that it's sometimes a good idea to "combat park" or back into spaces so you can flee or leave quickly if needed. Sworn LE officer & tactics trainer Massad Ayoob suggests that to his CCW/armed students. I do it often.

Another tip is to not bunch up around other vehicles.
I often park my SUV a few spaces away in a empty area that I can quickly scan around the entire vehicle. It might be another 20/30 feet but I don't mind the extra walk to get a full, unblocked view.
My final tip is to learn where the common CCTV camera mounts, exits/fire safety, stairs, blind spots, etc are where you travel often or work/attend classes.
People are creatures of habit. How many times do you or your family members park in the same places or shop/walk around the exact same stores, markets, malls, restaurants, etc.
Could you exfil or flee that area quickly? Do you know where the fire hydrants or alarms are? Does that store or building have security officers?
Learn to spot these things & keep them in mind when you shop.

 

[larry_minn]

Most of the walk up ATMS around here have a glass enclosure with a door. I think that is a very stupid design- someone can trap you in there by blocking the door.
I'd prefer it all be open with just a roof, then you have multiple escape routes.

They can be good/bad. We have a couple where you have to swipe a current card to unlock door, then inside use machine. During that time the door will NOT unlock to anyones card. Until you hit unlock inside/release door. Panic button if needed.

 

[RustyShackelford]

ATM structures.....

Most "structure" type ATMs are in the US north-east. This is for cold/snow/bad weather more than CP-TED(crime prevention thru environmental design).
Banks, credit unions & financial institutions do not want to be sued.
Slip & falls, accidents etc are more common than violent crime.

Rusty

 

[MedWheeler]

Regarding "enclosed" ATM locations, Larry_Minn writes:

We have a couple where you have to swipe a current card to unlock door, then inside use machine. During that time the door will NOT unlock to anyones card. Until you hit unlock inside/release door.

This is interesting. One of my local branches has this, and I've used it. I don't know if, once I'm inside, it would open for another card-swiper. However, I was walking up to it one night last week, and a woman ahead of me who unlocked it with her card actually held the door open for me to follow her inside.

 

[skoro]

Moral of the story:

Don't fumble-flub around in your purse at an ATM at 3 am. Do your thing and go.

Predators always look for dawdlers.

 

[Blue Thunder]

Situational Awareness first and foremost, then the Don't Do Stupid things, with stupid people, at stupid times (late at night), at stupid places (ATM's in most places, should have gotten money earlier with the 7P's Prior Proper Planning Prevents *&^% Poor Performance).

 

[Deaf Smith]

I don't use ATMs... period.

They charge to high a percentage.

Just use checks, Wal-Mart card (they allow you to get a bit of cash ZERO INTEREST RATE), and maybe credit card if we are traveling.

And we keep aware of our surroundings.

Deaf

 

[RustyShackelford]

Don't dawdle....

I agree with the don't dawdle or diddle around.
I would also agree that people should be more alert or aware but honestly most won't.

These "sheeple" aren't on gun-tactics websites or learning defense methods.
Thugs & street crooks want a easy lick. They want a target(ideally a wealthy or weak) that they can gain control over & rob quickly without a fight.
Seniors, disabled, single women, etc.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

I like some of the changes to ATMs that have come out.

The Navy Federal Credit Union ATMs that I use, for example, aren't the type you "feed" your card into. They've got card swipes. So I don't have to wait and fumble around with my card at the end. Swipe, pocket, do my business and leave.

At night, I'll use the drive up ATM. And I'll pull up as close as possible to the ATM. This makes it easier for me to reach the ATM and makes it impossible for someone else to get next to my car on the driver's side.

Situational awareness is ALWAYS paramount. Conduct your business accordingly.

Have your ducks in a row BEFORE you pull into the banking area. Your doors should be locked and the windows up. You should know what and who is visible in the area. Your ATM card should already be out and ready to go. You should already know what account you're going to access and how much to pull out. When you get your money, immediately tuck everything away in the car (card, money, receipt), roll up your window, and drive to a safe(er) place before you do anything else. THEN count your money, put it in your wallet/purse, etc.

If you have someone else with you, the BEST thing they can do is actively watch the surrounding area and let you know the instant things don't look right.


Crimes like this are crimes of opportunity and there are two key elements to them that crooks pay attention to:

1. Opportunity.
2. Time.

Mitigate both to the max extent possible.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

Lots of good advice, but let me add something obvious- it should be pretty easy most of the time to plan ahead enough to not need to use an ATM at 2:00am. I get that stuff comes up but try to plan ahead! It's like the mad rush to beat last call at the liquor store- did people not realize they were gonna want a beer til then?

 

[jimbo555]

I agree with Deaf Smith. I never use them. And I'm asleep at 3am.

 

[leadcounsel]

I found the advice to "never use them" to be fairly useless. That's like saying to never drive "in that part of town" or never "get gas" or whatever....

Fact is most of us have to use ATMs from time to time, and do other public activities we would all agree are more risky... and while we can choose our time/place in general, we can't always.

So the advice has limited merit frankly. When we all find ourselves needing to make a last minute deposit or withdrawal, it's important we all train our loved ones and ourselves the safest way of accomplishing said task.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Just hit the gas. Really. Even with the gun in your face the odds are overwhelmingly in your favor.

I agree with the "never use them" or "don't go to that part of town" gibberish. You can be a victim anytime and anywhere. You have to still live your life. Just be aware and ready.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

"Just hit the gas"...except the lady may not have been in "Drive" at the time, requiring time to reach and shift (and it was apparently a console mounted shift, not column mounted, is you notice how she went about backing up).

And when someone's literally got a gun right in your face...odds aren't "overwhelmingly in your favor", especially the average person who goes through life never having encountered such a dangerous situation, or really expecting to ever be in one.

But your bottom line is correct...be aware and ready.

 

[MedWheeler]

I also agree that the "never use them" is impractical and unrealistic advise.

It's like the commenters in the "Armed civilian tackled in Wal-Mart" thread who advise that no one should allow another person to be behind them in the entrance to, or while within, the store.

Sometimes, life has just gotta be lived.