Comments on: Decatur Police Release Photo of Bank of America Robber

By: po-po

po-po — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 21:28:26 +0000

Why don’t you call the police right away when you are approached by a panhandler or any other sort of suspicious activity? There may not always be a patrol car close to report it to.

By: karass

karass — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 16:40:07 +0000

I’ve been pan-handled there before. Luckily there was a nearby patrol car and I could report it.

By: runswithdogs

runswithdogs — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 16:16:48 +0000

A month or 2 month ago, I was approached by a panhandler at the walk-up ATM who’s look was pretty similar to this guy (I adjusted this pic in photoshop to better see the details). Same size, same very dark complexion, same facial structure. Was asking for the exact $ that I’d just withdrawn– not just “spare change”.

I called the branch and the CSR was totally dismissive and unconcerned. Big surprise there. I eventually got to the mgr. who said she’d “ask him to leave”.

You gotta wonder if it’s the same guy.

By: FM Fats

FM Fats — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 13:22:21 +0000

The East Lake Wells Fargo on Glenwood was held up earlier that day.

By: karass

karass — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 04:45:39 +0000

This time of day is unfortunately exactly when middle school and high school students start to walk home from school and is on a route that many kids heading north and/or west might use. Even some 9-11 year olds from Glennwood might be walking by that corner of Commerce and Clairemont. And I imagine that St. Thomas More students could be in that area. Maybe even some Clairemont families would be walking home after staying out on the playground for awhile after school. So, even though this perpetrator doesn’t seem particularly competent or dangerous, it’s concerning that he could be out and about on local streets and causing a police response at the same time that many children are making their usual way home.

Any suggestions on how you let young people, especially those who are old enough to walk home alone, know about an incident like this in a way that emphasizes staying safe but is not unduly alarming? Kids always know about these incidents, often more than the adults do.