Burglars have reportedly been targeting ATMs and stealing entire machines from outside of businesses on the Westside and Midtown in what the LA Times is calling "a mini-crime wave." more ›

Carrie Thomas, the manager of a Shakey's in Moreno Valley, was found dead in her car after being shot in an apparent robbery near an ATM, reports the Press-Enterprise. Thomas, 23, had worked at the Shakey's for the past five or six years, according to the restaurant's owner, Harold Veum. more ›

The LAPD are investigating an incident involving a brief kidnapping and an ATM robbery reported in the vicinity of Pico Boulevard and Bronson Avenue on January 11th. The victim, a woman who was parking in a dim-lit covered garage, was approached by a man who covered her mouth, entered her vehicle, and led her to believe he had a gun. He forced her to drive to an ATM and take out money, then drop him off near Normandie Boulevard and 30th Street. more ›

Sometimes you just have to act the part to get the job done. At least that's what seems to have happened at the Haven gastropub in the city of Orange yesterday, when a couple of guys dressed as maintenance men strolled in and helped themselves to the venue's ATM, according to ABC7. Using a dolly, the duo took the full-sized machine right before the customers' eyes. "Who are we to question them or ask them any questions? No one really paid much attention to it," said one witness. more ›

This rumor has been floating around for years. If you're getting robbed and forced to take out money at an ATM, you can alert police by entering your PIN in reverse, but still get the money out so the bad guy is none the wiser. The locally based Snopes.com calls the rumor false and gives a history of the technology, which was first patented in 1994 by a Chicago businessman, but hasn't found an real-world use. Even a bill related to the idea went through the Kansas legislature but never became law. However, the LA Times reports today that Councilman Greig Smith, in his new role as chairman of the Public Safety Committee, wants to explore the technology in light of teenager Lily Burk's murder. She was killed after attempting to withdraw money from ATMs with a credit card (it never worked). Smith says the technology would cost $25 per ATM to install. If this technology were to become citywide, ATM robberies would likely become seldom, or at least and unfortunately, more efficient. more ›

About 30 minutes after Charlie Samuel allegedly killed 17-year-old Lily Burk Friday, leaving her body in her car parked off a Skid Row street, he was detained by police a few blocks away for a Drinking in Public violation. As he was being searched by officers, narcotics paraphernalia was found and he was arrested and booked for Possession of Narcotics Paraphernalia. more ›

A family of four were irate and shaken last night after one of them had his car stolen after being shot at a Washington Mutual bank branch, on the corner of Sherman Way and Vassar Avenue in Canoga Park. Kami, a resident of the area, said he was approached at the bank's street-front ATM by a man holding a gun demanding money. When Kami explained that he was only checking his account to confirm that he was out of money, the man shot twice, and ran to Kami's car. The thief then broke the window and drove off. Kami was not injured. more ›

I am a long time user of your banks. I signed up at one of your Westwood branches because of your witty advertising and I stayed loyal because of your Grade-A customer service, most notably your people working the phones. more ›