Wichita police warn of armed men forcing ATM withdrawals

Wichita police are urging the public – especially women who may be in an apartment complex parking lot alone at night – to watch out for two men who are trying to force people to withdraw money from ATMs.

Two women were victims of two armed men who approached them early Tuesday while they were in or near their cars at east Wichita apartment complexes, police Lt. James Espinoza said.

In the first attempt, two men approached a 19-year-old woman sitting in her vehicle at 9100 E. Harry, ordered her to unlock her door, got in and told her to drive to the nearest ATM. The woman escaped before leaving the parking lot and scared off the would-be robbers by turning on her car alarm, Espinoza said.

In the second attempt, which took place about 15 minutes later at 1945 N. Rock Road, a 24-year-old woman was approached by two men when she was outside her parked vehicle. The men ordered the woman to get into her vehicle while holding her at gunpoint, Espinoza said.

The woman offered to give the men her cellphone, money and other items but was refused. She ran away when another vehicle drove up, Espinoza said.

Neither woman was hurt.

The attempts are the fourth and fifth reported in Wichita in recent weeks that police say are similar and may be carried out by the same men.

In Tuesday’s assault at 9100 E. Harry, the men were described as:

▪ Black and thin, 6 feet tall, wearing a white sweatshirt and dark pants

▪ Black with a medium build, 6 feet tall, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt

In the assault at 1945 N. Rock, the men were described as:

▪ Black, mid-20s, 6 feet tall and 150 pounds with facial hair, wearing a light gray hooded sweatshirt with a zipper and a large logo and light gray sweatpants

▪ Black, mid-20s, 6 feet tall with facial hair, wearing a dark blue hooded sweatshirt with a zipper and large logo and dark blue sweatpants

“They were very similar in nature,” Espinoza said of the assaults and suspect descriptions.

Wichita police are asking anyone who has information about the men or who sees or is approached by them to call 911.

The department “is taking this very seriously,” Espinoza said. “It’s a high priority with us right now.”

Espinoza urged people to be cautious when they’re out alone and offered these safety tips:

▪ Be on the lookout for suspicious people or vehicles.

▪ Park in a well-lit area.

▪ Ask apartment management or maintenance to replace outside lights that are burned out.

▪ Tell someone when you’re leaving home, where you’re going and when you plan to return.

▪ Ask someone to watch you get into your car or escort you.

▪ Carry your cellphone and maybe a flashlight with you.

“There are other items for protection such as a body alarm or key chain that makes a very high-pitched noise,” Espinoza added. The woman who was attacked Tuesday at 9100 E. Harry “set her car alarm on, which scared off the would-be robbers.”

That, he said, was a “very important, very smart thing to do.”

This story was originally published December 29, 2015 at 5:59 PM with the headline "Wichita police warn of armed men forcing ATM withdrawals."