A man who attempted to rob a bank near UCF Thursday afternoon claims he was forced to commit the robbery by a man threatening his family, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office says.
Police arrested a man who attempted to rob the Fairwinds Credit Union located on Alafaya Trail north of Science Drive around 4 p.m. on Thursday.
Deputies told Local 6 news the suspected robber passed a note to the teller and the teller hit the silent alarm, thinking it was a robbery attempt. But deputies said the note said he needed help and needed the bank to call the police.
Investigators then told Local 6 they believe the man was the victim of a scam after the man said someone called him, told him he needed to get the money or his family would be in danger.
“We’ll cover all aspects of this crime and find out who made this phone call to him and what their purpose was in trying to get the money and what their plans were once he took money out, where to take it,” Lt. Spike Hopkins with OCSO told Local 6.
Deputies found the man’s family and they were safe. They said the victim and his family are cooperating with authorities to help find the caller.
