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Police arrest man who robbed woman at Amscot ATM

Posted at 12:44 PM, May 03, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-04 14:12:08-04

UPDATE | Tampa police have arrested Charles Omar McGee as the suspect seen in the video committing the robbery at the Amscot ATM. 

McGee, who is currently in jail on unrelated charges, will now face an additional charge of robbery. The police thanked the media and community for sharing the surveillance video of the robbery to help identify McGee and end the search. 

McGee was arrested on Wednesday on outstanding warrants. 

ORIGINAL STORY | Police are looking for the man who robbed a woman who was using the ATM at an Amscot in Tampa.

On May 1, at 1:42 AM, a woman was withdrawing some money from an ATM at the Amscot located at 8409 N. Florida Ave.

The man can be seen lingering in the lobby as the victim is focused on completing her transactions. Then, the suspect attacks the victim taking all the money she had just withdrawn.

"I thought he lost his mind!" Aimee Ross, the victim, said. "I had my money in my hand and he said give me your money b***. I'm not easily intimidated. I wasn't going to give him my money that easy."

The suspect left the scene on foot and Tampa Police Detectives are asking for your help in identifying this robbery suspect and helping to take him off the street.

Ross is also directing some anger at Amscot and the other people who were inside of the business. She says there were about 5 people who just stood by, watching, including an Amscot employee.

"I kept saying 'He's robbing me! He's robbing me!' And nobody would help me," she said. "And the guy who works at Amscot wouldn't even call the police."

Police say they did receive a call from Ross. TPD has not yet responded to our request for any other calls that may have been made, but say they're checking they're records.

On Thursday, Ian A. MacKechnie, Executive Vice Chairman of Amscot Financial, issued the following statement after the incident:

"At Amscot, the safety of our customers is always our top priority. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement to ensure that this crime is fully prosecuted, and have launched our own internal investigation. We have already taken steps to ensure that the customer, Ms. Aimee Ross, is made financially whole and we will continue our efforts to provide a secure environment for our customers to conduct financial transactions. We urge anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873-8477 so this criminal can be brought to justice."

Security expert Lenny Bogdanos told ABC Action News criminals don't care about witnesses or cameras and people have to be prepared at all times.

"It should not happen to anybody," Bogdanos who owns International Executive Protection said. "And, unfortunately, we live in a society that we have to always be aware of our surroundings.  We have to have the buddy system in place and be confident in how we act around people."

Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay, Inc. is offering a reward of up to $3,000 for information that leads to the identification and arrest of the suspect seen in this video.

Anyone with any information regarding the identity of the suspects and who wants to be eligible for a cash reward is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477), report anonymously online at www.crimestopperstb.com or send a mobile tip using the P3 Tips Mobile application. Crime Stoppers must be contacted first in order to be eligible for a cash reward.