For those in the Clear Lake area (12 ATM robberies)

[KinnyLee]

Thanks for the heads up. This is why I usually use the ATM at my local Diamond Shamrock / Stop n Go / Valero at night. Please be careful and stay in condition yellow.

[BenGoodLuck]

The man drives the vehicle in front of the victims, to block them in, and the woman gets out and usually acts like she is hysterical,

That's the first clue that it is time to get the hell out of there and call 911. I can understand that your window might be open while you're waiting for the ATM to dispense the cash, but if a car pulled in front of me, I'd immediately back out of the ATM lane.

I prefer ATMs where you swipe your card and hold onto it, rather than having to insert it into the machine and not get it back until the transaction is over. If I have to leave an ATM machine in a hurry, I'd prefer to have my card in my possession.

[stevie_d_64]

Considering I only bank at two institutions in this area...

One of which needs to consider upgrading their ATM's to the "swipe" models...

The other one has the swipe, and the closed off (secure) atrium vestibules...Both of which afford me, the ever hyper-vigilant law-abiding gun-toating, CHL forum posting gooberhead a safe banking experience...

From a certain point of view...

Also, that Wells Fargo on Bay Area, the exit from that drive through ATM puts you directly out into some heavy cross traffic on Bay Area...I've always been extremely careful coming out of that place, as there is no other option to merge back into traffic from that banks property...So that may be another factor why these suspects chose to do their thing at this location...