Automated Teller Machine

Two men were robbed at gunpoint after withdrawing money from an automated teller machine in Town Center late Monday night, Howard County police said.The victims, a 32-year-old Columbia man and a 19-year-old Catonsville man, were not injured, police said. About 11:30 p.m. the Columbia man made a bank transaction at the 1st National Bank of Maryland in the 10000 block of Governor Warfield Parkway.Just as the Columbia man climbed into the passenger side of his friend's 1986 Ford Escort, an armed man ordered the driver out of the vehicle.

ABOUT 50 MILLION Americans will cast their ballots for president on touch-screen terminals Tuesday. If my experience as an election judge is any guide, voters will love these machines, which are generally easy to use and which easily accommodate voters who have disabilities or do not speak English. And if my experience as a computer scientist is any guide, those voters will not realize just how dangerous it is to rely on these machines to conduct a free and fair election with a reliable result.

The next time you use an automated teller machine, you just might end up buying stocks or enrolling in a college course.As technology improves, ATM machines are being programmed FTC to do more than just pass out money, says PLUS system INc., a Denver company that operates a worldwide ATM system.An automated teller machine was installed in Honolulu this month that allows travelers to make hotel reservation, rent cars or get a free map of Waikiki.A Pittsburgh bank has an ATM that allows customers to trade stocks or apply for a loan.

A River Hill resident sustained minor injuries Sunday evening when two men punched him and stole his wallet, police said. The 21-year-old man had pulled into his driveway in the 5800 block of Old Sea Place in River Hill about 9:15 p.m. when two men approached, said Cpl. Lisa Myers, a Howard County police spokeswoman. One of the assailants displayed a black semiautomatic handgun, police said. The assailants pushed the victim and punched him in the mouth, then demanded his wallet and the access number for his automated teller machine card, police said.

Baltimore City Southern District Theft: After stealing a debit card from a resident of Herndon Court on Tuesday, the thief removed more than $400 from the victim's bank account through an automated teller machine in the 3000 block of S. Hanover St.

An article in yesterday's editions about a robbery at an automated teller machine in Woodlawn listed an incorrect telephone number for Metro Crime Stoppers. The correct number is 410-276-8888.The Sun regrets the error.Pub Date: 10/31/98

Someone broke into McDougal's between 2 a.m. and noon Sunday, and stole $720 from a dollar bill changer, pinball machine, jukebox and automated teller machine, county police said. It was the third time in two months the Pasadena bar was burglarized.Police said the burglar entered by prying open a rear sliding-glass door at the bar in the 8000 block of Fort Smallwood Road.Pub Date: 10/09/96

This is an edited excerpt of a San Francisco Examiner editorial, which was published Tuesday.THE BANKING industry is proving to be its own worst enemy in the aftermath of a losing election campaign over excessive automated teller machine fees.Earlier this month, San Francisco voters approved a measure that prohibits banks from charging non-customers a second fee for using their ATMs. Instead of being gracious losers, the banks obtained a temporary injunction.The banks have a public relations disaster on their hands.

A man struggled with a woman as she made a withdrawal at a North Laurel bank machine Saturday morning, took her cash and card and ran, Howard County police said.The victim, a 36-year-old North Laurel woman, was not injured, police said.She had been getting cash from the NationsBank automated teller machine in the 9800 block of U.S. 1 at 1:30 a.m. when the man robbed her, police said.The robber was described as a black male, 6 feet, 2 inches tall, 25 to 30 years old, wearing a green shirt and dark shorts, police said.

A Columbia woman was robbed of $60 Saturday as she withdrew money from an automated teller machine in Laurel, police said.Janine Rekdahl, 29, was taking cash from the ATM at the Citizen's National Bank branch in the 3300 block of Laurel-Fort Meade Road shortly before 4 p.m. when a man behind her asked, "Can I have your money, please?" police said.When Rekdahl turned around, she saw a man pointing a small handgun. Again, he said, "Please," and she handed him the money.The man walked away with another man who was waiting around the corner, police said.

Baltimore City Southern District Theft: After stealing a debit card from a resident of Herndon Court on Tuesday, the thief removed more than $400 from the victim's bank account through an automated teller machine in the 3000 block of S. Hanover St.

This is an edited excerpt of a San Francisco Examiner editorial, which was published Tuesday.THE BANKING industry is proving to be its own worst enemy in the aftermath of a losing election campaign over excessive automated teller machine fees.Earlier this month, San Francisco voters approved a measure that prohibits banks from charging non-customers a second fee for using their ATMs. Instead of being gracious losers, the banks obtained a temporary injunction.The banks have a public relations disaster on their hands.

Using a photograph taken at an automated teller machine, Howard County police have identified a suspect in the carjacking of a 27-year-old Cockeysville woman Jan. 27 outside a Columbia hair salon.After taking over the woman's vehicle at gunpoint and driving her to a bank in Owen Brown, a man tried unsuccessfully to withdraw money from her account, police said. The woman escaped, suffering minor injuries.A bank camera at the ATM took a photo of the man, police said.Police have issued an arrest warrant for Larry Waymon Best, 35, of Prince George's County.

An article in yesterday's editions about a robbery at an automated teller machine in Woodlawn listed an incorrect telephone number for Metro Crime Stoppers. The correct number is 410-276-8888.The Sun regrets the error.Pub Date: 10/31/98

A man with a handgun robbed a Glen Burnie man Friday of money he was carrying, then forced him to withdraw more from an automated teller machine in Pasadena, county police said.David W. Burton, 33, told police that a man with a silver-colored gun approached him after he left a NationsBank ATM at Southdale Shopping Center about 9 p.m.Burton gave the gunman his money and complied when ordered to get more, police said. The man demanded Burton's car keys and threw them, police said. He got into the passenger side of a 1992 Mercedes 400, which sped east on Mountain Road.

A Columbia woman was robbed of $60 Saturday as she withdrew money from an automated teller machine in Laurel, police said.Janine Rekdahl, 29, was taking cash from the ATM at the Citizen's National Bank branch in the 3300 block of Laurel-Fort Meade Road shortly before 4 p.m. when a man behind her asked, "Can I have your money, please?" police said.When Rekdahl turned around, she saw a man pointing a small handgun. Again, he said, "Please," and she handed him the money.The man walked away with another man who was waiting around the corner, police said.

A man with a handgun robbed a Glen Burnie man Friday of money he was carrying, then forced him to withdraw more from an automated teller machine in Pasadena, county police said.David W. Burton, 33, told police that a man with a silver-colored gun approached him after he left a NationsBank ATM at Southdale Shopping Center about 9 p.m.Burton gave the gunman his money and complied when ordered to get more, police said. The man demanded Burton's car keys and threw them, police said. He got into the passenger side of a 1992 Mercedes 400, which sped east on Mountain Road.

Using a photograph taken at an automated teller machine, Howard County police have identified a suspect in the carjacking of a 27-year-old Cockeysville woman Jan. 27 outside a Columbia hair salon.After taking over the woman's vehicle at gunpoint and driving her to a bank in Owen Brown, a man tried unsuccessfully to withdraw money from her account, police said. The woman escaped, suffering minor injuries.A bank camera at the ATM took a photo of the man, police said.Police have issued an arrest warrant for Larry Waymon Best, 35, of Prince George's County.

Someone broke into McDougal's between 2 a.m. and noon Sunday, and stole $720 from a dollar bill changer, pinball machine, jukebox and automated teller machine, county police said. It was the third time in two months the Pasadena bar was burglarized.Police said the burglar entered by prying open a rear sliding-glass door at the bar in the 8000 block of Fort Smallwood Road.Pub Date: 10/09/96

An Ellicott City man fought off a robber at a drive-through automated teller machine in Columbia on Saturday and drove off while the robber withdrew money from his account, Howard County police said.Gregory Bales, 35, of Ellicott City was not injured in the robbery in the 8700 block of Cloudleap Court in Long Reach village, police said.Two similar robberies occurred at the same bank machine May 4 and May 14, but police do not believe they are related, said police Sgt. Steven Keller.About 7 a.m. Saturday, Bales steered his car into the drive-through Signet Bank in the Long Reach Village Shopping Center and began using the ATM, police said.