Mother's life threatened in robbery

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - A search is on for the would be robber who put a gun to a woman's head on Friday inside a Buffalo bank.

The whole ordeal has left the mother of three shaken and angry at the gunman and bank employees.

It happened suddenly at the Bank of America branch at Main and Fillmore.

A mother of three, who had just made a mortgage payment found herself confronted by a gunman and two others.

She talked with News 4 about the ordeal.

"They put the gun to my head and they said they were gonna kill me if they didn't give them any money," she exclaimed.

She told News 4 the bank employees did not respond.

"The bank tellers, I don't know if they hid under the registers or they went behind them, but they left. They left me standing there with a gun to my head and I feel that they jeopardized my life," she also explained.

She also said there was no security guard on duty and that she began having an asthma attack.

The three masked men, she said, realizing they weren't going to get anything, fled on foot.

Her father explained, "I'm very angry with the bank, the way they treated her when the robbery occurred. So I'm very angry at them."

"All the tellers ran, and she was left there. They (the robbers) pushed her out the way and she started having an attack," the victim's sister said.

Her mother remarked, "When I got there, she was in the paramedics truck. They were giving her oxygen because she has asthma really bad."

No one from the bank would talk.

Other banks in our area have recently been hit the same way, by three men wearing masks.

Buffalo Police believe this robbery attempt may be related to at least two recent bank robberies in the area.

Buffalo Police Spokesman, Mike DeGeorge said, "The one that occurred recently in Cheektowaga and that I think the one that occurred on the Key bank on Bailey Avenue, a few weeks back."

Buffalo Police did find what they believe to be a stolen car near the Bank of America branch, a car which may be related to the most recent incident.

The Bank of America will not comment on the victim's concerns because of the on going investigation, but a spokesman told News 4 that there are security measures in place.

If you have any information, you're asked to call the Buffalo Police confidential tipline at 847-2255.