Man Attempts to Rob Decatur Wachovia, Fails
Decatur Metro | August 27, 2009JoeBlow sent in a tip that there had been an armed robbery at the Wachovia in downtown Decatur at Ponce and N. Candler. I forwarded it along to Decatur Police and Asst. Chief Keith Lee replied with this alert…
On Thursday August 27, 2009 at approximately 10:19 AM the Decatur Police responded to an attempted robbery at the Wachovia Bank located at 250 East Ponce de Leon Avenue. A bank employee advised a lone male approached her teller station and presented a note. The note demanded the teller produce money. When the teller did not immediately comply, the suspect left the bank. No one was injured and no weapon was displayed.
The suspect is described as follows:
SUSPECT DESCRIPTION
Gender: Male, Race: African American, Height: 6’02” – 6’03”, Weight: Slender, Complexion: Dark, Facial hair: None
Clothing: – Khaki pants- Dark cap with UGA bulldog emblem- White short sleeve collared sweater with light blue diamond pattern (argyle) running vertically down the front of the sweater
Jewelry: – Large diamond stud earrings in left ear
Anyone having information about this crime is asked to contact the Decatur Police Department at (404) 373-6551.
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Hmm, unarmed, easily discouraged, would-be bank robber in fairly distinct garb–UGA cap, argyle sweater, and large diamond stud earrings. I’ve decided to not panic on this one. They didn’t get the age of the suspect–could it be someone with dementia or delusions? Hope the teller kept the note.
But this may rule out Wachovia for me as my choice of a bank for my young teen son, especially because there was an armed mugging on that block sometime in the last year. I just realized that it’s time for him to have a real bank account and the experience that goes with it. I prefer something in downtown Decatur so he can walk there; that rules out our credit union. Any suggestions of downtown banks that don’t attract robbers and muggers as frequently as others?
Any suggestions of downtown banks that don’t attract robbers and muggers as frequently as others?
Uhh … it can happen anywhere Snowflake. I wouldn’t make a decision on a bank because a very lazy criminal was unable to rob a particular bank branch. I think I remember the Decatur First branch in the little Kroger getting robbed a few years ago.
The same 17 year old robbed the Kroger DFB three times and was caught shortly after the third. He’s doing some very serious time now. Very sad.
Why is that sad? He’s a thug who committed serious crimes, now he’s in jail.
Third time’s a charm across the board it seems. Perhaps other criminals need to break the (same) law in the same place within a relatively small window of time otherwise they’re not as likely to be apprehended successfully.
So it’s unfortunate, not quite sad, that it would take a third attempt before the arrest, charging, sentencing, and incarceration can commence.
sigh…possible tsk.
I was shopping at the little Kroger about a year ago when I saw one of the employees restocking shelves, shaking like a leaf and on the verge of tears. I asked her if she was OK and she said that she had just been talking to her friend who is a teller at the bank in the store when a man came up and robbed the bank. She was shaken up because it all happened right beside her. She said, “I was so scared. And it was the same guy who robbed the bank last week.”
I haven’t been back to the little Kroger since.
There are quite a few other Wachovia locations in town (including the drive through location at 315 W. Ponce that used to be the main branch).
Hey DM, thanks for keep us up to date on this type of stuff. I find it upsetting that this stuff goes on in Decatur, but I guess it’s a way of life for some.
I find it interesting that this type of thing takes place in Decatur due to it’s relative difficulty in getting in/out of the area. It’s not like we have speedy access to a I-285, I-85, etc. Stop lights and narrowed traffic lanes in all directions from that particular bank. I guess this was a target of opportunity for the suspect.
On a lighter note:
Did anyone check the note for the robbers name, address, or account number? (The robber was wearing a UGA cap)
Did anyone ask the teller if she was a Florida fan? (The customer was wearing a UGA cap)
Two of my kids just opened savings accounts at Decatur First Bank. I highly recommend them. Ann Berg helped us with both of them and she knows half the kids in CSD. She was fantastic.
CSD,
I would suggest online banking if you are worried about robbers and muggers. Many brokerage firms offer online checking accounts if you already have an account with them. They reimburse for ATM withdrawal charges from any ATM machine (even international – for me at least). ING also offers online banking for free.
They give you prepaid envelopes to mail deposits if you don’t have direct deposit.
I haven’t walked into a bank in over a year.
I’m sending this to all my UGA friends
“Clothing: – Khaki pants- Dark cap with UGA bulldog emblem- White short sleeve collared sweater with light blue diamond pattern (argyle) running vertically down the front of the sweater”
Suddenly, I flashed back to the movie “Sixteen Candles”, where on the morning after the big dance/party at Jake Ryan’s, Grandpa Joe is on the phone with the police, describing the missing Long Duc Dong’s outfit :
Grandpa: “What was he wearing? Well, it was a red argyle sweater, tan pants, and red shoes. What? No, he’s not retarded!”
Back on topic: Would that all attempted bank robberies were that anticlimactic.
Yeah, I guess bank robbing and low self-confidence aren’t necessarily a good combo.
“When the teller did not immediately comply, the suspect left the bank.”
Ran out?
Walked out waving?
No guard on duty?
This is just another recent example of a thug getting away untouched. How does this keep happening here?
“How does this keep happening here?”
It’s not unique to “here”
Very true. A friend witnessed a high-speed chase today on Boulevard @ Skyland…4 thugs in a Ford Explorer running from the man.
“Here”- It would seem that “downtown” Decatur would be difficult for a perp to escape than, say, East Atlanta, Edgewood, Mechanicsville, etc. How many people say this guy running down the street today? That’s why I am a little shocked…
And what would you suggest we do, Dirty Harry? Make a flying tackle at a dude who just tried to rob a bank? Just because “no weapon was displayed” doesn’t mean the guy wasn’t carrying, and let’s face it, if you’re going to rob a bank in freakin’ downtown Decatur at 10 AM, you’re probably a pretty desperate character.
But hey, if you want to go Chuck Norris on someone, be my guest. Me, I’ve got a cell phone and I’m not afraid to use it.
It’s dangerous to be so naive that we think a robbery or crime cannot happen in Decatur or anywhere else. We have a great little city and are probably a lot safer than most areas around us. But if we think crime can’t happen here, that makes us a better target, because we become complacent. Don’t be paranoid, but don’t be naive either. We have Marta and you can get out of Decatur in any direction in a matter of minutes. We also have every major bank represented around our town square. Today’s robber obviously had a poor work ethic and it’s comical. But let’s stop acting so shocked.
“We have Marta and you can get out of Decatur in any direction in a matter of minutes.”
I’m sorry, but I was at the Decatur station today and there was a “delay due to power difficulties…” that left me there on the platform until about 10:45.