Monroe man says would-be robber scared off by loud phone app

MONROE, Wash. – There were some scary moments for a Snohomish County man who said someone tried to rob him right after making a deposit at an ATM.

But the victim also said he foiled the robbery by using something you might have in your own pocket.

The victim says it happened Friday at the Wells Fargo Bank in Monroe.

“I thought it was kind of rude,” said Geno Cuevas, “I mean, come on.”

Cuevas said he had just finished making a deposit at the ATM when someone behind him started asking him for money.

“I just thought my privacy was invaded, actually,” he said.



But when Cuevas told the crook he didn’t have any cash, that’s when he said the thief made her move and tried to grab his debit card.

“I grabbed my card back and she tried to grab it,” he said, “I took my card quickly and dumped it in my pocket.”

But it’s what Cuevas did next that he believes scared the thief away.

“I picked up my phone, pushed the panic button,” he said.

Cuevas' phone has an app with an alarm that sounds like police sirens. He said that’s when the would-be robber took off empty-handed.

Now Cuevas plans to always carry his smart phone in his pocket from now on.

“Carry one of these and bring somebody with you if you can,” he said.

Cuevas said he called police and that they are looking into the case.

Social media has also been lighting up with reports of aggressive panhandlers working in the same area.