BSO Needs Help Identifying Robber Caught On Surveillance In Violent ATM Robbery
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POMPANO BEACH (CBSMiami) – It's been six months since a woman was mugged at an ATM in Pompano Beach, and despite clear video showing the attacker, detectives have not been able to identify him.
Diana Harrington remembers the day in May when she arrived at a Wells Fargo bank in Pompano Beach.
She planned to make a deposit at an ATM but it was late and there a man at one of the machines.
She said he appeared to be getting money so she approached.
Seconds later, her money was gone.
"He turned to me and said, 'Give me that money, (expletive),' you know, and started grabbing the money out of my hand," she said.
"This man appeared to be using the ATM but as soon as she pulled out her money to make her deposit, he snatched it from her," said BSO Spokesperson Gina Carter.
Carter said the confrontation didn't end there.
The thief struggled with Harrington and he pushed her to a spot out of camera view.
At some point, Harrington forcefully grabbed the bad guy's private parts to try and stop the attack.
"That was my rent money and I thought, 'You're not getting this,'" she said.
But he did get it and BSO detectives tell us the thief left then quickly returned, punching Harrington in the face and stealing her watch.
"He's obviously a very aggressive person that went out of his way to inflict harm on a victim, on a defenseless, elderly woman that he didn't need to," said BSO Spokesperson Gina Carter. "He could've taken the money. He could've run. but he came back to add pain and suffering to his victim."
The robber is believed to be in his early 30s, with a medium build, dark hair which was cut short and a dark goatee. He wore an athletic sleeveless shirt, athletic shorts, sneakers and a baseball cap. He fled in a dark-colored four-door Toyota.
Harrington suffered only minor physical injuries but she bears the scars of emotional ones.
"When I go to the grocery store or something, I'm always looking around to see if somebody's walking up beside me," she said.
The crime happened in May, but BSO is only informing news outlets now because they pursued some seemingly strong leads on this guy only to watch them fizzle out and they need the public's help.
Detectives hope someone recognizes this man. Harrington does, too. She has a few choice words to describe a man who attacks a woman.
"Somebody that has no regard for anybody else at all," she said. "Somebody that has no self-esteem, no respect. Someone that doesn't care at all."
Anyone with information is asked to contact Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS (8477) or online at www.browardcrimestoppers.org.
Anonymous tips that lead to an arrest are eligible for a reward of up to $3,000.
