OAK RIDGE, Tenn.—While the crooks who kidnapped the CEO of Y-12 FCU here are still at large, the credit union does not believe the same people are behind a kidnapping/robbery that took place across the state at another CU.
Early Monday morning, the 64-year-old manager of the 8082 Rockcreek Cove office of FAA CU in Memphis, Tenn., was allegedly kidnapped at her home by two men who forced to her travel to the credit union to obtain funds. According to the Memphis Police Department, the victim was forced to drive her car to the credit union and then let the two men into the branch. There the two men robbed the CU and fled with an undisclosed amount of money in a bag, scattering cash outside the CU when a dye pack exploded in the money sack.
In April, Mark Ziegler, CEO at Y-12, was kidnapped. Authorities reported that Ziegler and his family were held hostage in their home as part of an alleged attempted robbery and extortion plot engineered by two men and a woman. The crooks were not successful in getting money from Y-12. Details on that story can be found here.
Looking 375 Miles West
Chris Smith, vice president of marketing for the $780-million Y-12, said that when he heard about the crime in Memphis, he became immediately interested in what took place 375 miles to the west.
“I learned that the two men who allegedly kidnapped the FAA employee are African-American,” said Smith. “The two men involved in the crime here are white, according to reports.”
Smith acknowledged that two similar crimes occurring in the same state is disconcerting, but noted the distance between Oak Ridge and Memphis is significant.
“Again, I think we can rule out the same people committing the two crimes. But if they are working together, we don’t know,” said Smith.
Following the Y-12 incident, the local FBI issued a warning to all bank and credit union employees in the Knoxville, Tenn., area to use caution and follow all security measures before, during and after the workday.
What Actions To Take?
But Smith is not sure what can be done to stop criminals who use these types of tactics.
“In both cases, here and in Memphis, it was essentially a home invasion,” said Smith. “But how do you protect yourself—our CEO did not make any wrong moves in protecting himself, and the crooks got him. What do you do, put extra locks on your doors, bars on your windows? But Mark was kidnapped in his driveway as he walked to his car. Short of having a Batman setup, where you blow out of the Batcave in the Batmobile, I am not sure what you do.”
Monday’s incident at FAA CU marks the third time in the last four months that credit union employees have allegedly been kidnapped in their own homes as part a robbery attempt.
As CUToday.info reported earlier, in late February, Matthew Yussman, CFO at Achieve Financial Credit Union in New Britain, Conn., was allegedly confronted at his home by two robbers who held him and his mother hostage overnight, then attached what he was told was a bomb vest to his chest and told him to drive to the credit union and retrieve cash in what ultimately was an unsuccessful robbery attempt. Three men are being sought in the case. Details on that story can be found here.
Smith said he has no opinion if the crimes in Memphis, and even in Connecticut, are from copycat criminals.
“I tend to think they are not, because in our case, and the earlier robbery in New Britain, both attempts were unsuccessful in getting any money.”