Suspect Robs $4,500 From an Oregon Credit Union Using Its ITM
Danielle Hammond will be arraigned on a bank robbery charge, while police in Kansas arrest a machete-wielding CU robbery suspect.
Criminals have robbed ATMs and ITMs using skimming devices, rubber checks, malware, power tools, construction equipment and even explosives.
But an Oregon woman, Danielle Mae Hammond, allegedly decided to take a different approach to robbing an ITM, and she may be the first or one of the first criminals to do so.
According to police, Hammond, wearing a black medical mask, walked into a branch of the $1.9 billion Advantis Credit Union branch on Woodstock Boulevard in Portland at 5:22 p.m. on May 21. She picked up the ITM’s phone handset and told the remote teller at the Oregon City contact center, “You have 30 seconds to send me five grand in all big bills or the next person coming in or out of here is gonna get hurt.”
As the contact center teller was complying with the robber’s demand, she said, “Hurry up.”
“The teller complied with the robber’s demands and dispensed a total of approximately $4,500 in 100-dollar bills in U.S. currency,” an FBI investigator wrote in a criminal complaint. “The robber took the money and departed the credit union on foot. The other employees in the credit union were unaware of the robbery until after the robber fled from the credit union.”
FBI and police forensic investigators managed to lift Hammond’s fingerprints from the ITM’s monitor. After running the fingerprints through an automated biometric ID system, they identified Hammond, who has several past felony convictions, including larceny, ID theft, assault, heroin possession and other crimes. There was also an outstanding warrant for her arrest for failing to appear in Clackamas County court on charges of theft and larceny.
On Aug. 4, however, Beaverton Police detained Hammond on suspicion of shoplifting and notified the FBI.
When police attempted to interview her, the suspect refused to answer questions and appeared to fall asleep, according to court documents.
On Thursday, a U.S. District Court magistrate judge in Portland ordered that Hammond remain in federal custody until she is arraigned on the felony charge of bank robbery in September, court filings showed.
Also on Thursday, in Kansas City, Kan., police arrested a man who allegedly used a machete to rob a credit union branch and threatened employees.
Wearing sunglasses, a face covering and a hooded sweatshirt, the suspect walked into the State Avenue branch of the $683 million Mainstreet Federal Credit Union at 2:47 p.m.
“[The] suspect entered the bank, threatened employees, demanded currency and brandished a bladed weapon,” KCK police said. “The suspect fled the credit union on foot with an undisclosed amount of currency.”
Shortly after the robbery, the suspect, who was not identified, was arrested without incident not far from the credit union branch.
READ MORE: Criminal Complaint for ITM Robbery Suspect