Strategy, Tactics, and Color Codes at an ATM

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Kleanbore

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Just before dinner yesterday, my wife said wanted to go over to the ATM. I didn't want to go. She said "I'll go. I stay very alert, and where we go now, there are no hiding places for people to lurk in".

Nope. Have to have two sets of eyes. So we went today.

The lot had few parked cars. She got out to work the machine. I stayed in the car--alert.

A young man entering the lot in a faded silver minivan noticed her standing by the machine and immediately turned without slowing, approaching us the wrong way in a one way lane. He turned and stopped crossways in some empty parking spaces a shot distance away and started watching her intently.

I was not possible for her to disengage from the machine immediately.

Uh-oh.

I unfastened my harness, cleared my jacket on this first cool day of the season, and opened the driver door slightly. The person of interest was to my right and ahead of us, about 25 yards away.

He evidently noticed my actions--possibly noticing my presence for the first time--and he immediately drove away--fast.

Was he even remotely aware that I had also unholstered and placed my gun on the passenger seat? Dunno.

I asked her if she had noticed the car coming the wrong way. No.

I asked if she had seen it stop in a possibly suspicious location. No.

I asked if she was aware that a man in the car was watching her at the machine. No.

That's why we always want two sets of eyes. Not two people concentrating on an ATM and on a cell phone, but two sets of open eyes.

This occurred in a very low-crime area, at an ATM in a lot that is among the least conducive to violent crime of any that I know of.

In about an hour, I'm going to open a beer.

Stay safe, my friends.
 
One needs to be selective of time and location. I'll use Walmart as an example one may use their bank card when shopping and get a specified amount of cash back. You are in the store which is relatively safe and convenient. Going to the bank I go thru the drive thru lane during normal business hours. I don't go to the outside ATM except during normal business hours.
 
Could of been innocent. Could of been a criminal.
One never knows and when a loved one is involved no chances should be taken. Thingdms happen too fast to be complacent.
 
No drive thru in your home town? . Some what safer and a cell phone app makes it quicker. Start the transaction at home or work, wave the cell phone at the ATM thru a partial open car window. Quick.
 
Ordinarily I'd say we simply don't use ATMs but Coronageddon changed things. With so many places not doing cash transactions and Walmart not giving cash back sometimes there's not an option (To be fair there's also not as much need). We don't do ATMs after dark. We do the drive through or go into the bank if at all possible.

If we do an ATM we use the one at our bank during normal business hours. It's in the middle of an open parking lot and can be seen from the bank. My wife does the transaction and I ride shotgun.
 
I've only used drive-thru ATM'S for at least the past 15 years, maybe longer. I don't use walk-up ATM's.
 
I only use the drive-up ATM's at my bank, for larger amounts. And yes, head on a swivel. (I still prefer to go in.) For smaller amounts, I select cash back when making purchases with my debit card.

Trunk Monkey said:
Walmart not giving cash back
Click to expand...
I got cash Thursday at work. I do every Thursday.

Kleanbore said:
Doesn't help with depositing paper checks.
Click to expand...
Check with your bank, their app might do that. My wife deposits checks all the time with her phone. (She sells crafts.)

I actually had to go into the bank yesterday, but it was to reset my password.
 
entropy said:
I got cash Thursday at work. I do every Thursday.
Click to expand...

I don't go to Walmart often but every time I have for the last several months as soon as I put my card in the card reader a notification pops up on the screen stating that there will be no cash back given.

After reading this discussion I asked my wife where she gets cash and she says that she does occasionally get cashback from Walmart also maybe she goes through a line with a cashier
 
Trunk Monkey said:
I don't go to Walmart often but every time I have for the last several months as soon as I put my card in the card reader a notification pops up on the screen stating that there will be no cash back given.

After reading this discussion I asked my wife where she gets cash and she says that she does occasionally get cashback from Walmart also maybe she goes through a line with a cashier
Click to expand...

Yes, the self-checks will occasionally run out, or they will short one or two if there isn't enough in the cash dispenser. When this happens, they will have a red border around the main display screen, there should be a sign on the register that says "cards only" , and the register will have a voice prompt after you scan the first item that says, "Do you wish to continue?" If it's card only and you want change, just hit no and go to a different self-check.
Cashiers should always be able to get you cash, they can have the CSM bring their register a 'loan' if they are short.
 
Kleanbore said:
Just before dinner yesterday, my wife said wanted to go over to the ATM. I didn't want to go. She said "I'll go. I stay very alert, and where we go now, there are no hiding places for people to lurk in".

Nope. Have to have two sets of eyes. So we went today.

The lot had few parked cars. She got out to work the machine. I stayed in the car--alert.

A young man entering the lot in a faded silver minivan noticed her standing by the machine and immediately turned without slowing, approaching us the wrong way in a one way lane. He turned and stopped crossways in some empty parking spaces a shot distance away and started watching her intently.

I was not possible for her to disengage from the machine immediately.

Uh-oh.

I unfastened my harness, cleared my jacket on this first cool day of the season, and opened the driver door slightly. The person of interest was to my right and ahead of us, about 25 yards away.

He evidently noticed my actions--possibly noticing my presence for the first time--and he immediately drove away--fast.

Was he even remotely aware that I had also unholstered and placed my gun on the passenger seat? Dunno.

I asked her if she had noticed the car coming the wrong way. No.

I asked if she had seen it stop in a possibly suspicious location. No.

I asked if she was aware that a man in the car was watching her at the machine. No.

That's why we always want two sets of eyes. Not two people concentrating on an ATM and on a cell phone, but two sets of open eyes.

This occurred in a very low-crime area, at an ATM in a lot that is among the least conducive to violent crime of any that I know of.

In about an hour, I'm going to open a beer.

Stay safe, my friends.
Click to expand...
Good job. :)
 
Currently I'm not going to the ATM because of COVID - I don't want to handle cash that others have recently handled, or put it in my purse.

Before COVID, I would never use the drive-through, that is for me personally way more dangerous because I can't reach to use all the buttons (on or off the screen) without opening the car door and getting out. If I needed to use the ATM I would go to a nearby branch that has one inside the bank.
 
old lady new shooter said:
Currently I'm not going to the ATM because of COVID - I don't want to handle cash that others have recently handled, or put it in my purse.

Before COVID, I would never use the drive-through, that is for me personally way more dangerous because I can't reach to use all the buttons (on or off the screen) without opening the car door and getting out. If I needed to use the ATM I would go to a nearby branch that has one inside the bank.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the insight. My paradigm based on my petite wife and my lanky self is operating drive-thru ATM'S from the driver's seat without exiting the vehicle, trying to understand exiting the vehicle at a drive-thru ATM.

The nearest branch of our bank, where we do 90+% of our banking, has drive-thru ATM'S of two different designs (this is Texas). Two of the four are what I'd describe as low slung that work well when either of us are driving her Mustang. The other two are higher up and work well when either of us are driving my pickup truck. It's not just a matter of foundation the machines are very different designs.
 
I rarely have more than a few dollars in my pocket these days. Mostly for those rare places like some restaurants that don’t take cards. It’s embarrassing to get a coffee or have breakfast and find out the small shop doesn’t take debit cards. Some small LGS’s are cash only also.
 
old lady new shooter said:
Currently I'm not going to the ATM because of COVID - I don't want to handle cash that others have recently handled, or put it in my purse.

Before COVID, I would never use the drive-through, that is for me personally way more dangerous because I can't reach to use all the buttons (on or off the screen) without opening the car door and getting out. If I needed to use the ATM I would go to a nearby branch that has one inside the bank.
Click to expand...
ATM’s generally are pre stocked with new currency. Bank tellers on the other hand are working from a cash drawer that have a lot of in and out monies. Would seem if that nasty little bug is on the green backs it would be more so on the cash drawer monies, or so it seems. At any rate I keep a fine mist spray bottle of alcohol In the cars. Every thing gets misted once’s it’s in my hands, even the donut at the DD drive thru. ;)
 
We have a problem around here with fast food places scamming card numbers. The cashier will take a picture of the front and back of the card and send it off to someone and, before you know it, your account has been compromised. Accordingly, I decline to use any cards for fast food (which I admit that I eat more often than I should). So I have to hit the ATM regularly. I won't use a walk-up ATM. Gee, cash in hand and back to the world? No, thanks. I use the drive-thru. I try to make sure I'm in a lane that will allow me to leave in a hurry if need be, all doors locked, grab my cash and be gone.
 
Spats McGee said:
I won't use a walk-up ATM. Gee, cash in hand and back to the world? No, thanks. I use the drive-thru. I try to make sure I'm in a lane that will allow me to leave in a hurry if need be, all doors locked, grab my cash and be gone.
Click to expand...
Slight mod: I use the drive through at the branch only in daylight, and if possible when the branch is staffed so they can see the ATM lane from the window. I park a bit apart from the ATM and I DO get out, for ease of access to my wallet, and also to my CC. That also gives me broader visual awareness of the area as I am using the AMT.
 
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