Woman attacked by robbers at ATM on Chicago's Northwest Side
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A 66-year-old woman was robbed and attacked while trying to deposit money at an ATM in Avondale Sunday night.
She was the latest robbery victim in a string of recent attacks at ATMs in the Chicago area. Industry experts say ATM-related crime is up nationwide, with more attacks specifically involving consumers and armored carriers.
The woman's daughter told CBS 2 she was on the phone with her mom at the time of the attack and heard her screaming.
"Next thing you know, it sounded like she was getting dragged out of the car," said Kristin, the victim's daughter.
Kristin did not want to show her face on camera after her 66-year-old mother was robbed and attacked while trying to deposit money at an ATM in Avondale Sunday night.
Just after 10:30 p.m., police said the victim was in her car at the Chase Bank ATM near Addison Street and Elston Avenue when two men opened her car door.
Police said one of the men hit the woman in the head with an object while the other man stole her money and her phone.
"She's had a close call, like not far from here, as well," said Kristin. "Sometimes it's not even at night - it's during the day. Just whenever they take the opportunity."
Police in northwest suburban Wheeling said they have seen it too. A woman was followed home there after leaving an ATM on Valentine's Day Wednesday.
The victim told police she was at an ATM at a bank in nearby Buffalo Grove when she was followed home by two people in a dark-colored Infiniti sport-utility vehicle.
"She heard a door slam behind her, and then heard footsteps coming towards her," said Wheeling Deputy police Chief Al Steffen, "and then another man came up and picked her up, and then slammed her to the ground. The men then picked up the cash and her phone and her debit card and fled in a black Infiniti SUV.
Wheeling police are now working with other police departments in the west and northwest suburbs - where at least five separate similar cases have been reported - to see if they could be connected.
Chicago Police have also been investigating multiple ATM robberies over the past month.
During the week of Feb. 8, an ATM break-in was reported in River North, and an attempted ATM robbery was reported in Humboldt Park.
David Tente, the executive director of the ATM Industry Association USA & Americas, said ATM crime is up dramatically since the pandemic.
"ATM Crime in general is a very rewarding type of crime," Tente said.
"It's up year-over-year, about 165% - and since 2019, I think about 600%."
And while there have been numerous attempts to install panic buttons or special pins that would automatically alert police — Tente's association generally opposes it.
"To put that extra piece on it just doesn't make a lot of sense," he said, "and actually, you know, we think is just not very workable - and further, you know, threatens the safety of the consumer."
Tente said while it is pretty obvious that lighting conditions make a huge impact on society, they also recommend alerting police and cooperating with the suspects – rather than putting people's safety in jeopardy.
No arrests have been made in these recent ATM robbery cases.
