Protect yourself against violent ATM robberies

Dangerous, frightening scenes are being caught on camera at ATM machines all across the country.

While it can happen anytime and anywhere, experts say there are ways you can protect yourself.

It's being called bank brutality. Surveillance video shows what happened when a 20-year-old woman was at an ATM in Florida.

A man comes up from behind, wraps his arm around her neck and demands she withdraw money.

He takes off when she hits the car alarm's panic button.

The images have shaken the community where it happened. And they caught the attention of the alleged crook's girlfriend, who called police offering an alibi.

Police have arrested 44-year-old Scott Patrick Deason, but he's keeping quiet.

Experts say most ATM robberies happen between midnight and 4:00 a.m., and they're more likely to occur at walk-up ATMs rather than drive-thrus.

But even those aren't thief-proof.

Another surveillance video shows what happened one night in Virginia.

A man runs up to a woman's car window pointing a gun. She gives him cash then speeds off.

It can happen in broad daylight too, even behind those secure bank doors. In New York, a man stole $300 from a woman at an ATM inside the bank's foyer.

"Make sure that you go to a well-lit area, or go to an ATM that's in a retail outlet because that's going to have a lot of traffic," said Jeanine Skoronski of bankrate.com.

Experts also say to avoid using ATMs located on corner. That blind spot

Is an easy hiding spot for a thief.

Don't wear flashy jewelry when grabbing cash. That could tempt a crook even more.

Don't count your cash at the ATM. Wait until you're in a private location.

And plan ahead. Keep deposit slips at your house, fill them out at your house, have it all ready to go so you can pop in front of that machine, get that deposit in and get out of there.

Bankrate.com also recommends that when you use a drive-up ATM, keep your engine running, your doors locked and leave enough room to maneuver between your car and the one ahead of you in the drive-up line.