JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – There's a neighborhood crime alert on the city's Westside, where police are looking for an armed robber who stole a woman's wallet and personal information, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday.
Police said the armed robbery happened about 2:45 a.m. on Oct. 16.
A woman told police that she had just parked her car near the Deerfield Apartments on South Lane Avenue when a young man wearing a yellow windbreaker pointed a handgun at her and demanded money, her wallet and her PIN.
Police said the young man then took off in a white minivan.
Investigators said they later learned he drove to a nearby ATM and withdrew cash from the woman's account.
"People aren't normally looking around for criminal activity, and that's what you always need to do," News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith said.
In this case, Smith said, the victim did everything right.
"Nothing is more important than your life," he said. "Whatever they're demanding, give that to them. Nothing is more important."
The Sheriff's Office on Tuesday released surveillance images taken from the ATM, which police believe show the robber and a second person taking cash from the woman's account.
"Criminals are not always very smart. They don't always plan out their crimes," Smith said. "For some reason, he thought he wouldn't be recognized. But this is a clear picture of this person. So if you recognize him, please call police."
Anyone who has any information about the to the identity of either person in the photos is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 904-630-0500 or email JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org. To remain anonymous and receive a possible reward of up to $3,000, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.