Police say armed robbery reported at Ann Arbor ATM didn't happen
Ann Arbor police said Tuesday that detectives have determined that an armed robbery reported last week at a Bank of America automatic teller machine didn't happen.
Police spokeswoman Lt. Renee Bush declined to specify why investigators believe the crime didn't occur, saying the investigation is ongoing.
No charges have been filed. A 22-year-old Ypsilanti woman reported at 1 a.m. Feb. 21 that she was at a Bank of America ATM at 1101 South University Avenue when a man approached her from behind.
She told police that he put his arm around her neck, held a cold metal object to her throat and said he wanted money. She also reported that the man took her ATM card and receipt. Police said she gave a description of the suspect.
Officers responded to the scene after receiving a 911 call. The incident prompted University of Michigan police to issue a crime alert and Ann Arbor police to issue a crime alert to downtown businesses.
Anyone with information can call the Ann Arbor Police Department's tip line at (734) 794-6939.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
LaMusica
Tue, Feb 28, 2012 : 10:53 p.m.
They better charge her filing a false police report! This is such a huge waste of resources. It seems to me that there have been a lot of these false reports lately. Are people so desperate for attention?
RJA
Tue, Feb 28, 2012 : 7:05 p.m.
Maybe it did, maybe it didn't happen. It will come out in the wash, I can wait.
kraiford12
Tue, Feb 28, 2012 : 6:44 p.m.
Why does it say: "Anyone with information can call the Ann Arbor Police Department's tip line at (734) 794-6939." If a robbery didn't happen?
lynel
Wed, Feb 29, 2012 : 2:43 a.m.
This is really pretty clear, call and report what you didn't see happen.
Youwhine
Tue, Feb 28, 2012 : 5:48 p.m.
In normal places, a person who makes a false report of a felony would be charged with a felony themselves. But in Washtenaw County the prosecutors are reluctant to charge anybody. And even if they did the judges would likely not take the case seriously.
actionjackson
Tue, Feb 28, 2012 : 4:53 p.m.
What could the reason possibly have been for making a distress call? Attention seeking or mental illness?
Youwhine
Tue, Feb 28, 2012 : 5:50 p.m.
I would never DERAM of speculating on this case as it would be a violation of the lame guidelines. However, in MANY cases like there where somebody reports a false robbery they are trying to construct an excuse for losing money. A common theme is drugs and/or theft.
Goodphotographer
Tue, Feb 28, 2012 : 4:31 p.m.
There are not too many places you can go in Ann Arbor, downtown or the U of M campus without being on camera. I'm not passing judgement on the victim here. However, anyone calling 911 should call correct or not call at all. As for Big Brother and ATM's they see you when you drive or walk up. Cameras are nearly everywhere considered retail, financial, munincipal, governmental, residential and viewing many streets and public thoroughfares If not now, they soon will be. With that in mind it's no wonder police 'declined to specify' other details .
nowayjose
Tue, Feb 28, 2012 : 3:57 p.m.
Guess she forgot those ATM machines have camera. Oops!
YpsiVeteran
Tue, Feb 28, 2012 : 3:50 p.m.
The false reporting of a felony is a felony in Michigan. Getting the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office to actually pursue the charge against anyone is a lost cause, however. There are probably a few hundred falsely reported stolen cars, alone, in this county every year.
smokeblwr
Tue, Feb 28, 2012 : 3:18 p.m.
The description did seem suspicious: "He was described as white but of an undetermined age. He's 5'6"-6'2" with short dark hair, and was wearing a dark hoodie that zipped, blue jeans and black Converse." Gauging somebody's height isn't THAT hard. Noticing details like his shoe brand and the zipper on his hoodie but not knowing his height within 8" is fishy.
Michael J
Tue, Feb 28, 2012 : 7:06 p.m.
right on
leezee
Tue, Feb 28, 2012 : 3:10 p.m.
There should be charges for this type of thing. I had a crime occur in my life recently and due to the fact that patrols have been decreased it really made a difference in response time. When someone reports a crime that did not happen, it just makes those that actually have experienced a crime suffer all the more because they may have to wait longer for a response.
ranger007
Tue, Feb 28, 2012 : 2:49 p.m.
What a waste of time for the police involved ..maybe they should make the person making the story up dish out a few grand to pay the police for the time spent.