Broken cash machine prevents robbery

SCRANTON, Pa., Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Police in Scranton, Pa., said two attempted robbers were foiled by a malfunctioning automated teller machine.

The pair of would-be thieves climbed out of a black compact car just before midnight Monday outside a Citizens Bank location and threatened ATM user Alex Kameroski with a handgun, the Scranton Times-Tribune reported Thursday.

"Max out your card," one of the men reportedly said to Kameroski.

However, the machine refused to dispense any cash when Kameroski punched in the numbers, leading the robbers to become anxious and flee the scene without any of their chosen victim's money.

Police Chief Robert Gerrity said Citizens Bank confirmed that the ATM was broken and several other customers had complained, the newspaper said. Kameroski said his two failed $500 withdraws showed up on his account.

Gerrity told the Times-Tribune that police hoped the ATM's surveillance camera will help investigators identify the attempted robbers.