ATM technician robbed at gunpoint in south KC

By Ben McCarthy

A brazen robbery took place at the Bank of America ATM on Wednesday evening near 135th and State Line Road left cash strewn across the ground and a local service technician fled for his life.

Matthew Cox, 22, a local ATM service technician in the area, was servicing the unit at 1210 West 135th Terrace in south Kansas City on Wednesday evening. Sometime around 8:30 p.m., a car with four men with guns pulled up as Cox ordered the unit opened.

Cox travels the area and the greater Midwest servicing ATMs. According to his family on site, he regularly receives calls late at night (even after midnight) to carry out such repairs. Cox’s father said in a distinctive Australian accent that he was concerned about the late nights his son had been working.

There was no immediate indication that Cox was followed to the ATM, but rather that the vehicle carrying the armed assailants came across his interview with the unit. Cox’s vehicle, a white Volkswagen Atlas, was not marked with any corporate affiliation or indication of what duties it performed for banks. Cox’s vehicle was the only one on the bank’s property Wednesday evening as he began servicing the ATM, which is clearly visible to nearby traffic along 135th Street.

Cox recognized the vehicle that drove up, with weapons pointed at him, and immediately fled the scene. No shots were fired and it was not immediately clear how much money had been taken from the ATM.

The gunmen escaped, but not without patrons of the neighboring Dairy Queen seeing everything that happened. According to KCPD, witnesses at the scene were able to provide detailed descriptions of the car, license plate number and other characteristics of the attackers.

At least half a dozen KCPD vehicles arrived on the scene and blocked the bank grounds. The ATM was still wide open while police investigated.

“This is not how I thought my evening would go,” Cox said as he was taken to a police car for a formal statement.

Cox’s father and older brother arrived on the scene just after 9 p.m. They said this was his first full-time job, and he had only been in the position for about nine months. They left briefly and returned with Krispy Kreme donuts and Naked Juice in tow, while police held the victim and witnesses for questioning for nearly 90 minutes. Cox held on to the donuts his family bought and said he would abide by police’s wishes that he refrain from any public comment on what happened Wednesday night.

A young couple at the Dairy Queen next door saw what was going on at Bank of America and provided police with detailed information about the attackers, including tracking the car to get license plate information.

According to the police There is no one currently in police custody and detectives are actively working to identify any subjects of interest. The investigation is still ongoing at this time.

Kudos to Telegraph reporter Ben McCarthy who happened upon the crime scene on Wednesday evening and decided to investigate.

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