Crime & Safety

Deputies Seeking Suspects Targeting ATM Users In Sonoma County

The North Bay trio works together to distract users and then film their PIN numbers, authorities say.

SONOMA COUNTY, CA - The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in identifying three suspects who are targeting ATM customers.

The suspects have been working together and distracting customers during or immediately after transactions and engage the customers by talking about dropped items and sometimes film the victims’ PIN entry with a cellphone, according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies said the suspects were involved in a Jan. 26 incident in Windsor.

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The first suspect is described as a white man with short dark hair. He was wearing a plaid shirt, glasses, blue jeans and black sneakers. He has a tattoo of a Grim Reaper on the inside of his right forearm and another tattoo on his left forearm, according to the sheriff’s office.

The second suspect is described as a black man with an average build and his hair concealed under a black wrap. He was wearing a dark shirt, patterned tie and a gray sport coat, sheriff’s officials said.

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The third suspect is a black man with a thin build and dreadlocks. He was wearing white pants, a patterned white shirt with a light colored tie and a blue jacket with a pink collar, according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies are also reminding customers using ATMs to practice personal safety and be aware of nearby people. Customers should watch for suspicious activity including people skulking about, rushing to the ATM before the prior transaction closes or trying to exploit someone else.

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