Apr 20, 2015 2 min read

Washington police are investigating an attempted robbery of a Washington man in the city’s West End early Sunday and the robbery of a Pittsburgh woman about 13 hours later near an automated teller machine at a bank in Tylerdale.

William Blankinstop told police an attempt was made to rob him about 3:50 a.m. as he walked near the intersection of Canton Avenue and Addison Street. Sandra Sheppard of Pittsburgh told police she had her purse grabbed moments after withdrawing $40 from the ATM at Washington Financial, 98 E. Wylie Ave., just before 5 p.m.

Blankinstop told police he was approached from behind by three black men dressed in black and wearing hoods. The men asked Blankinstop where he was going.

He said one was about 5 feet, 6 inches tall, one about 5 feet, 8 inches tall and the other about 6 feet tall. The short one wore a white mask on his face, while the two others had pistols.

The alleged victim told police he ran, going toward a business near the intersection of West Chestnut Street and Cumberland Avenue. He got a ride back to his home.

A witness reported seeing a man running through the yard of a nearby church.

Sheppard told police she recognized the robber as he approached her. She told police she was visiting her mother and walked to the ATM before returning home. The robber said “Hi” before grabbing her purse as she was putting the money inside it.

Police said the robber ran up Poplar Avenue with Sheppard in pursuit as she called 911 and gave dispatchers his location and a description before losing him near East Wylie and Allison Avenue.

The woman said the robber came back and tried to grab her cellphone but ran when she yelled. Police later found the jacket the robber was believed to have been wearing near the intersection of Poplar and Lawrence avenues.

Sheppard used Facebook to give officer the robbery suspect’s name. Charges are pending.