Victim stuns armed thief with screams

An armed robber who targeted a woman at an ATM in Changsha, Hunan province was scared into submission by the victim's frantic screams.

Local police detained the 18-year-old suspect, surnamed Li, after he attacked the victim as she withdrew money at an ATM while talking on her mobile phone.

Surveillance video showed Li choking the victim, surnamed Ding, while holding a knife.

Ding reacted with screams so loud that Li, visibly stunned, took a few steps back and lowered his weapon. The victim then took 400 yuan ($64) from her purse and handed it to Li, who fled immediately. She continued her ATM transaction before calling police.

"I knew he wanted to rob me. I told him I was also a migrant worker without much money. I had thousands of yuan in my purse, but I only gave 400 to him," said Ding.

Li, from Hainan province, later told police he had traveled to Changsha in hopes of finding work and ran out of money.