News

Strange twist: ATM holds up man!

April 16, 2002

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RARITAN TOWNSHIP, NJ -- James Kahlke had no idea he would miss Thanksgiving dinner when he stopped to withdraw cash from an ATM at a Commerce Bank branch.

But that's what happened after the lobby door, which was activated to lock automatically, trapped the 36-year-old man for nine hours, according to the Associated Press.

He pounded on the door, paced and withdrew money -- emptying his account -- before curling up on a rug to sleep.

He was finally freed at 6 a.m. the following morning, when the bank's assistant manager showed up for work.

A Commerce Bank spokesman described Kahlke's entrapment as a "very freak accident" and said the bank is investigating the incident.

Kahlke was apparently not reassured by the bank's promise that it wouldn't happen again. He closed his account.