A Bayonne man was arrested for using fake guns to rob a woman of $900 at a bank ATM earlier this week, according to Police Capt. Eric Amato.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Saliu Konate, 20, of Bayonne, was charged with robbery and possession of an imitation firearm, Amato said in a statement.
He was taken into custody yesterday at approximately 2:15 p.m., after being identified as the actor of a robbery reported on April 21st.
According to the 49-year-old female victim, on that date at about 7:19 p.m., she responded to the Bank of America, located at 701 Broadway, to withdraw money from the vestibule ATM.
As she approached the door, an unknown man, later identified as Konate, opened the door for her from inside the vestibule. When she passed through a second interior door leading to the ATM, Konate followed closely behind her.
When the victim inserted her debit card into the ATM, Konate proceeded to threaten her with harm if she did not withdraw $900 and give it to him.
The threat involved Konate manipulating an object in the front pocket of his hooded sweatshirt, giving the impression that he was armed with a firearm.
She was able to flee the vestibule as Konate removed the debit card from the ATM machine and fled the area on a bicycle. No injuries were reported.
The Bayonne Police Detective Bureau immediately initiated an investigation and were able to quickly identify the actor as Konate from previous encounters with him.
Then yesterday, as Konate responded to headquarters on an unrelated matter, detectives arrested him and charged him with the robbery and weapon offense, police said.
