POLICE looking for suspect in ATM card robbery

A bandit hits and robs an elderly woman in broad daylight, knocking her to the ground and stealing her purse. But, this criminal may have made a critical mistake. <br><br>KOTV's Sean Mossman says

Thursday, June 28th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A bandit hits and robs an elderly woman in broad daylight, knocking her to the ground and stealing her purse. But, this criminal may have made a critical mistake.

KOTV's Sean Mossman says the man's mistake was trying to use his victim's ATM card. ATM Machines have cameras, and now police have photos of the man they think assaulted this defenseless woman. "He just reached on my arm like this and just, whoof, my purse and just gone." Mary Sue asked us not to use her last name.

She's understandably skiddish after being attacked and robbed Monday afternoon. She was just walking to her car after shopping at a local store when she was hit in the back of the head and knocked to the ground. The man held her down, stole her purse and took off in his car. "And I was yelling help me somebody help me and I was screaming like a lunatic, and I thought well nobody's gonna help me." Another woman called police, who quickly began looking for this man, whose name is unknown. The only reason police even have these pictures are because their suspect made a fatal mistake. "In a matter of 14 minutes they said he'd been to the bank and tried to get some money out with my ATM card and he didn't get it because he didn't have the PIN number." That's right, just minutes after the assault, a man tries to use Mary Sue's card at an ATM only a mile from the crime scene.

He's still on the loose, but at least now Tulsa Police have something to work from. Little consolation to Mary Sue who still sports the bruises from her attack. She's also still canceling credit cards and checking accounts, and she'll even have to get new identification. Sue Ann says she's still a little scared of the man who assaulted her, but she wants to make other retired woman aware of what could happen to them. If you recognize the man in the tape or have any information about this crime, Please call Crimestoppers at 596-COPS or CLICK HERE and all information will be kept confidential. The Citizens Crime Commission will pay up to $2,000 in cash for any tips leading to an arrest.