6:50am Thursday 18th March 2010
By Christine Fleming
A woman mugged by two men at a cash machine in a busy Richmond street during lunchtime rush-hour has spoken of her terrifying experience.
Rachel Redmond, 28, was outside HSBC in George Street when she was approached by two men, at about noon last Wednesday.
Miss Redmond said: “I put my pin number into the machine and suddenly two men came up and put a newspaper over my hand and the key pad of the machine.
“They distracted me saying ‘give me some money, give me some money’, while one of them keyed in £200.
“They got the cash when it came out.”
Miss Redmond reported the mugging to the bank and police, before being driven around the area in a police car in the hope of spotting the robbers.
The public relations officer said she had been left shaken by the incident.
She said: “It happened in broad daylight.
“I think it has definitely made me think twice about my security on the streets.
“You just don’t really think of it happening at lunchtime in Richmond.”
HSBC was initially reluctant to refund the stolen cash as the bank said it was a personal theft and not a card robbery.
But after being contacted by Miss Redmond and the Richmond and Twickenham Times, the bank has since said it will refund the full stolen amount.
A spokesman said: “The branch is refunding the money to Miss Redmond - who is a long established customer.
“These were very unusual circumstances and police are investigating.
“Fingers crossed they can catch the people involved.”
HSBC also admitted there was no CCTV at the cash machine.
Miss Redmond said: "There's just no security around the machine."
When asked about the lack of CCTV at the cash machine, a spokesman for the bank said: “Some have them and some don't.
“We look at any incidents in and outside our branches and constantly review our security - but we haven't made a decision about this branch yet.”
Miss Redmond, who works at Virgo Health PR, said HSBC had apologised to her, and added: “I’m absolutely over the moon and really really grateful to HSBC for giving me the money back.”
Police confirmed they were treating the incident as a robbery and said they were still hunting the two men.
The first man was in his thirties, 6ft, with dark hair and dark eyes. He wore jeans and spoke with an accent and is possibly Turkish. The second was around 25 years old, 5ft 10in, with dark hair and dark eyes. He also wore jeans.
Anyone with information contact PC Matt Hewett at Teddington police station on 020 8247 5863 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/trade_directory/