Woman robbed at Ojai ATM
Nov. 27, 2012
Thanksgiving night, a woman was robbed at gunpoint at the Maricopa Highway branch of Rabobank.
According to Ventura County Sheriff’s Detective Mike Harris, the woman went to the ATM at 11:37 p.m. Thursday and withdrew an unspecified amount of money. “The person went to withdraw money, and as she walked away, the subject pointed a handgun at her and demanded money,” said Harris.
The woman gave the suspect the money, and he fled in a larger, light-colored SUV. Harris described the suspect as a Hispanic male in his 20s or 30s, between 5 feet 5 inches and 5 feet 9 inches.
Harris added that detectives are still looking at surveillance video for additional clues, and said that there were witnesses to the incident in the victim’s vehicle.
Calls to Rabobank requesting comment were not returned as of press time.
Ojai Police are seeking help from the community to identify the suspect. Call the Ojai Police Department at 646-1414.
Interesting to read this while traveling in Mexico. I’m in Veracruz and using an ATM at midnight is no big deal as the town is alive and kicken until 4am. Families are socializing and eating in the many squares, parks and arcades. Kids of all ages are playing nearby or in their parents arms and laps. Every night, a different band or group is performing on the main plaza stage. One night it’s rock, the next it’s classical, another night it’s Krishna chanting, swing jazz or traditional Veracruzana. Public dancing every Mon and Wed nights (at least). Vendors in carts and restaurants are serving great food. People everywhere are smiling, congenial and courteous. Friendly and helpful police have a visible, but not intrusive, presence; they are obviously more concerned with security than with law enforcement. Early the next morning, everyone is up early and working or off to school and the cycle repeats. It’s amazing. I’ve never felt safer or more welcome.
I hope they catch him. Nothing against anyone but its funny how they always thinks it Hispanics.
Yes, Stand Your Ground has worked so well in Florida
@Pine Mountain Kid….. I’m with you , but liberals,aka democrats, have made laws that would make you and I the suspect, instead of the victim.
Why didn’t the witnesses in her car the the license plate number off the vehicle / call the p.d. while it was in progress???
I left Ojai a long time ago, but have been to ATM’s in various cities at various times of the day and night. The time of day makes no difference. Blaming it on the time of day is like blaming a girl for getting attacked because she is wearing a short skirt. The low life that robbed her is the problem.
I hope they do catch this thief and punish him to the full extent of the law. I still feel Ojai hasn’t changed much from what it has always been, a safe place for people at any hour of the night at any place. Drugs have always been around. I see less grafitti than I did a few years ago. There is always going to be crime. There is crime now and there was crime 30 years ago in Ojai. I probably wouldn’t go to an ATM anywhere on Earth that late in the night, that would definetly up your chances for something bad happening.
I have been at that ATM at night and it takes a while for the machine to spit out the money. I stand there and look around to see who’s coming and what is happening near by. If the process could be sped up maybe the “criminals” would NOT try to hit you there. So can the process be sped up?
Some of you underestimate the abilities and dedication of our local deputies. I’ll bet you they will nail the guy if they have even a piece of a viable clue to go by. That’s been my experience at least.
You are right! It’s a small town and people get caught doing stupid things and complain about the cops. Bottom line… the mentality around this town is it’s only illegal if you get caught and then they cry the cops are bad. Really? These people pointing their finger at our local deputies have three pointing back at them.
Yeah, some are dorks I’ll say but so are some of this town’s citizens.
This town used to be Mayberry but because of frivolous lawsuits and violation of rights, they feel limited to what the can do, I’m sure.
This poor girl. This is traumatic and I think she needs to know that not only her community is supporting her but that the community is also supporting the law enforcement agency who is diligently working to find this coward as well.
Ray, you are a good person. Thank you.
L.K. She wasn’t alone. The article said there were witnesses in her car. But why does the time matter? or if she was alone? are we asking for trouble if we go to an ATM in the middle of the night? a robbery is a robbery whether it is daylight or not. Sounds like you are being a little judgemental. But maybe I am misunderstanding your question.
The time may be important because someone might have been in the area or nearby and seen something which fits the description of the guy. That’s often how crimes get solved–putting little pieces together.
November 28,2012 at8:22am
I agree with the first comment. Why were you out alone that late at night at the ATM. Thats asking for trouble in any city. The second comment, hope you get well soon but please don’t compare the Sherrif’s with Keystone cops. Thing my not go the way you want them to but the police department does thier best. I feel sorry for these people that pledged to protect and serve only to get compaired to Keystone cops. No matter how hard the police try to help in keeping us safe, they have to protect themselves from stupid law suits, getting shot when trying to protect us and name calling or getting up down for doing their job. We need to let them do the job we hired them to do. The police department has had their hand tied so tight, it’s a wonder we have them anymore. I for one would never be an officer in this day and age. They get NO respect.So your right! use good judgement all the time.Protect yourself. Lets not make this another episode#?!
What we need in this town is a little Cowboy law, shoot and ask questions later. You try to steal, rob or hurt someone you are going to pay with a body part or your life.
Maybe then those kind of thugs will think twice before doing the crime. I will not hold back if they mess with me.
Why was she at an ATM that late at night? Alone?
Since when does an adult need an excuse to be out past 10:00 p.m. ? and she had people in her car, jeeezzz.
I feel very sorry for this woman. I hope she is ok. I am still recovering from the trauma of a crime IN OJAI last year. Ojai needs to WAKE UP and realize that it is not the safe little “Mayberry” that it once was. Crime, drugs and gang violence is alive and well. The police are not able to keep up, nor are they particularly motivated to solve these crimes. I know from personal experience. Trying to deal with the Sherrif’s department was like a Keystone Cope episode. People need to lock their doors and watch out for their personal safety in the same way that people in other suburban/urban areas do. If you don’t, it’s just a matter of time until you are the victim.
Why don’t you move to Ventura? They just send you a piece of paper in the mail to fill out for your report. Or better yet, Los Angeles where your call is in the pending que for hours and then on a detectives desk for days or weeks before they can help you.
You said in your post Crime, Drugs, and Gang Violence is alive and well~ so is the level of activity and amount of time it takes to deal with all the other crime victims.
These deputies might not be perfect to your standards and some might be jerks, but for the most part they have always been there when the you know what hits the fan.
Walk in their shoes~ Would you put your life in front of a perfect strangers? Have a homeless person puke on you? Tell someone their child was just killed in an accident? and then go to another call where two people are arguing because they are drunk?
C’mon you don’t have a clue! You watch too much TV and think it’s an episode of CSI. I see why you’re CONFUSED!
Go Ginny! I have to often call on the cops to assist me and even for small things they get there pretty quickly (commonly within 15 minutes, often less). Their response time and success in catching people is fairly remarkable. Why? They are professionals who know what they’re doing and a number of them grew up and/or live here.