Jacksonville police asking for help in locating ATM drive-thru robbery suspects

Police are searching for two suspects involved in an armed robbery at a Wells Fargo on Dunn Avenue.

Dec. 15, 2018, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, two men robbed a victim while he was at a drive-thu ATM.

 “I never knew this was a bad neighborhood, you know? This was my first time hearing that someone got robbed at an ATM at Wells Fargo,” said Tennille, a Well Fargo member.

Police say the victim was approached by two men who pulled out a gun and stole the victim’s money and vehicle before taking off. 

Action News Jax found that, on Dunn Avenue, at least 24 crimes took place in the last four weeks and nearly half of those crimes were violent crimes.

Jennifer Coffindaffer is a former FBI agent who teaches self defense both with and without weapons.

Coffindaffer says to try and stay in areas that are heavily populated and, if you’re headed to a walk-up ATM, it’s not a bad idea to carry pepper spray.

“If you are approached from a very long distance, that is going to shoot out and be able to give you time to retreat and get back into your vehicle,” said Coffindaffer.

She said that while drive-thru ATMs are usually safer than walk-up ATMs, the time of day and surroundings are important.

“(If) you're completely alone and there’s hidden places where people can hide behind a car or behind a corner, it might be a better decision to find an ATM that’s better lit or go at a different time of day,” she said.

Tennille said, every time she withdraws money from a drive-thr ATM, “I stay looking at my rear view mirror so I try to do it quickly and get up out of there."

Anyone with information on the robbery in December is asked to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.