ATM Kidnapping Victim Speaks Exclusively To CBS 11
ARLINGTON (CBS 11 NEWS) - Robbed and stuffed into her own trunk by a kidnapper with a gun.
Christin, who didn't want to use her last name, says it all happened quickly, as she talked exclusively to CBS 11 News.
It happened at a drive up ATM at the Wells Fargo on North Collins Drive in Arlington. Both police and Christin say she was getting some cash when the man approached her.
Surveillance photos captured the moments the suspect approaches the car, from behind the ATM. The camera also caught some great shots of the suspect's face.
"It's always well-lit, so I can see when people are coming, but I didn't see this one coming," she said. "I just thought, I better remember everything about this guy so the police can catch him."
Once she was ordered to get into her own trunk at gunpoint the man drove around for hours. Arlington police believe he may have committed at least one other robbery with her inside the car. Then, the car stopped in Euless. The man appeared to step away and that's when Christin reached for the emergency latch and was able to break out of the car.
"So I thought maybe I have a chance of getting out of here. So I found the unlock from the trunk from the inside and I looked around to see if there was anyone nearby."
She ran to a nearby QT for help.
"She believed he was gone and that gave her a window of opportunity," said self-defense expert Jeff Chase.
It was a decision that probably saved her life, said Chase. He says these kinds of things happen a lot, but there are things people can do to prevent it.
"Staying off your phone, staying out of your purse or turning your radio off. Just looking around your situation what your surroundings are," suggests Chase.
As for Christin, she has this message for her attacker.
"I may be the victim here but I think he has his own problems. Like there is something there he needs to take care of."
Safety Tips:
Jeff Chase, who is an instructor and owner of Lone Star Protective Solutions, offers the following tips as a safety guide to avoid falling victim to a kidnapping and robbery:
Always exercise good situational awareness when approaching vulnerable locations like ATM's
- Know where you are going and how to get there
- Avoid distraction such as loud music, cell phones, or heavy conversation
Check with local law enforcement for crime trends
- Calling your local police department or researching reported crimes in your area will give you a better understanding of the types of crimes that occur in your area. This will allow you to know what to prepare for.