Didn't they know that strip club ATMs are a rip off?

11/14/2011 6:37:23 AM

2 Missouri men abducted, forced to use ATMs in metro-east

BY CAROLYN P. SMITH - News-Democrat

Two St. Charles, Mo., men told police Sunday they were kidnapped in their hometown, forced to drive to East St. Louis and Washington Park to retrieve money at ATM machines and threatened with death if they didn't cooperate with their abductors.

Washington Park Police Chief David Clark confirmed for a reporter Sunday afternoon that his department is investigating the case. The call reporting the situation came into the Police Department at 6:20 a.m., Clark said.

Clark said the men, who're in their 20's, told police they were abducted after they left a pub in St. Charles.

The suspects' car is a black Pontiac with Missouri license plates, Clark said.

The victims told police "they were made to drive their car and follow another car driven by an unknown black male," Clark said.

"That driver went into Illinois, where the victims were made to get out at an ATM machine in East St. Louis and withdraw money from their account. From there, the abductors took the victims to an ATM machine in Washington Park, which was at the Amoco gas station on Bunkum Road," Clark said.

The pair were driven to Blondies, a strip club in the 1200 block of North Kingshighway in Washington Park, where an ATM machine is located inside the business. They were also told to withdraw more money from their accounts.

Afterward, the abductors took the two victims to an undisclosed location, made them strip and get on their knees, Clark said.

"They were threatened with death if they didn't cooperate. But, the suspects took the victims for a drive and dropped them off," Clark said.

"They called the police and made a report of the incident," Clark said.

The victims' car was located by police at Blondies. Clark said police have not made any arrests in the case, but are continuing to investigate it.