ELIZABETHTON, Tenn.—Police here are saying an employee of Northeast Community CU was threatened in their home with harm if they did not get them cash from the credit union.
If true, it would be the fourth such robbery attempt in Tennessee this year that involved a financial institution employee in their home.
Details remain limited, but WJHL quoted local police as saying the unidentified teller told investigators someone threatened violence if that employee didn’t withdraw money from the credit union. Local police and the FBI are investigating. No one was hurt, and no money ever changed hands.
Three kidnappings of financial institution employees have occurred this year in Tennessee. In April Mark Ziegler, CEO at Y-12 FCU was allegedly kidnapped. In June, the 64-year-old manager of the an FAA CU office in Memphis was taken. And then in July, Tanner Harris, first vice president and commercial lending officer at SmartBank in Knoxville was allegedly kidnapped at his home.
The rash of alleged kidnappings began this year in February at Achieve Financial Credit Union in Connecticut. In that case CFO Matthew Yussman alleged that he was confronted in his home by robbers who forced him to wear a bomb vest and drive to his credit union to get money.