THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, December 6, 1995            TAG: 9512060474
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: NORFOLK                            LENGTH: Medium:   67 lines

WOMAN ROBBED AT NORFOLK ATM ASSAILANT IMPLIED HE HAD A WEAPON, THEN FORCED HER TO WITHDRAW $200.

Although it was night, she thought it was safe to use the automated teller machine. Another customer just finished without a problem. She stepped up and made a deposit.

``I thought everything was fine,'' the woman said. ``Then I went to make a withdrawal.''

That was when a man eased behind her, implied he had a weapon and demanded cash.

``He grabbed ahold of my waist and I screamed,'' said the woman, who asked not to be identified.

The robbery happened at 7:42 p.m. Sunday near Janaf Shopping Center at the First Union Bank in the 5800 block of Virginia Beach Blvd. Police on Tuesday released a description of the robber and a photo of the crime in progress taken by the bank's ATM camera.

The photo shows the woman, frozen with fear, leaning slightly forward with her mouth and eyes wide open. The suspect, with what appears to be a cigarette in his mouth, is directly behind her.

While her two children sat nearby in a parked car, the robber grabbed her and implied he had a knife or a gun.

``I was not going to take any chances,'' the woman said. ``I said please take it.''

Breathing as easily as she could, she withdrew the $200 he demanded.

The man ran into the darkness across Virginia Beach Boulevard toward the Pizza Hut and Taco Bell near Military Circle shopping center.

She drove to a nearby service station to call her bank and the police.

The man is described as black, 6-foot-2, 165 pounds with inch-long dredlocks. He was wearing dark pants and a green parka.

The woman said she was not trying to be a hero. She instinctively reacted how police suggest.

``In this case, she did the right thing,'' said Larry Hill, a police spokesman. ``We've seen examples of people resisting and getting injured.''

Victims should use the eyes and ears to observe every detail, he said.

``They may tell you to look down. Look down toward their feet see what you see,'' Hill said. ``Try to be as observant the best you can. Look for little things like scars, tattoos, rings on fingers.''

Also, a victim should look at the robber's reflection in any glass that might be near the ATM.

``During this time of the year, it's the tendency to be carrying more money and more people are out and about shopping, which increases the odds of someone becoming the victim of a crime,'' Hill said.

Anyone with information on the suspect is asked to call Crime Line at 664-4040. MEMO: AVOIDING CRIME\ Norfolk police spokesman Larry Hill had these tips

for avoiding crime at automatic teller machines:

Go during the day.

Use machines that are well-lit or near a lot of traffic.

Do not withdraw large amounts.

Observe the surroundings.

Take all receipts. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

This photo, taken by the automated teller machine camera, shows the

victim, right, and the suspect.

by CNB