Tourists forced to make ATM withdrawals in Durham robberies

A man and a woman were walking on Morris Street around 10 p.m. Friday when a man approached them, pointed a gun and demanded money from both of them. The robber then forced the man to withdraw money from an ATM at a PNC Bank branch at 500 W. Morgan St. According to a police report, more than $900 was taken from the couple.

At about 10 p.m. Sunday, a man was walking in the area of Hunt and Foster streets when a man armed with a gun approached him and demanded money. The robber then forced the man to withdraw money from an ATM near the Farmer’s Market.

Because the robberies occurred about a block apart, police said they think they might be related.

"[D]o not walk at night on Foster St.," Alex Kotch posted on Facebook late Sunday, noting that the robber got $400 from him. "I'd say just don't walk around quiet streets in Durham at night – drive everywhere."

Adam Pantola said the two robberies aren't enough for him not to be in downtown Durham at night.

"I don’t think this changes my vision of downtown Durham. I think it’s somebody looking for an opportunity," Pantola said. "I'm not scared."

Nancy Nye, who lives near downtown, called the robberies "an anomaly."

"There’s so many more people walking around Durham in the evening now that I just feel like the momentum is going to keep building," Nye said. "It’s not going to affect things too much, except maybe more police patrolling downtown."

"I haven't had any problems personally. It's one of those interesting situations where, until it affects you personally, maybe it's not something that I'm considering a big deal," said Robert Preston, who lives and works downtown.

Anyone with information about either robbery is asked to call Durham police Investigator D. Cramer at 919-560-4440, extension 29414, or Crime Stoppers at 919-683-1200.