

Is your Redbox location safe?

I was just reading a story coming out of Belleville, IL that brings up this question…

The Belleville News-Democrat reports:

An armed gunman tried to rob a 20-year-old woman early Monday at the McDonald’s near the Belle Clair Fairgrounds in Belleville.

The woman told Belleville police that she was at the Red Box DVD rental in front of McDonald’s, 125 South Belt East, shortly after midnight when a man approached her and demanded money. When she told him she didn’t have any money, the man drew a handgun and pointed it at her, telling her she had to give him something, according to the police report.

Does anyone else feel unsafe when renting from a Redbox in their area? If so, what do you think can be done about it?

57 Responses to “Is your Redbox location safe?”

  1. Visitor [Join Now]
    Lauren [visitor]

    I feel unsafe with outdoor Redboxes. As I live in the City next to where this incident occurred. I felt unsafe at the O’Fallon Redbox off Highway 50 at the McDonalds. Redbox Rentals should be kept indoors.

  2. Visitor [Join Now]
    Sara [visitor]

    All Redboxes should be kept indoors. You tend to spend more time at one than an ATM which is a great opportunity for criminals to take advantage of you. I would never use one outside.

  3. Visitor [Join Now]
    Sheila Englerth [visitor]

    I feel safe, as our redboxes are inside stores, but someday, someone is going to flip out from waiting while people “choose” a movie.
    It would be great if we had to order them online and just pick them up.

  4. Visitor [Join Now]
    Jimmy [visitor]

    I try to avoid location that look dangerous but when I do go to safer outside Redoxes I donâ€™t go to them real late. I prefer doing it early in the morning just before work but I do know the feeling when you try to return 2 movies and the machine is taking its time and the person behind you is being rude.

  5. Visitor [Join Now]
    Scott [visitor]

    I love RedBox and they need to keep them outside, that is the great part about it. I go to this RedBox all the time and it is a shame that this happened, and I am glad everyone is OK, but I know of a person getting mugged at the BP gas station 3 doors down, just a week or so ago. It’s a shame, but maybe you should be cognizant of your surroundings. If you want to go inside, go to the shop-n-save ones, they are indoors and still 24 hours. The RedBox at this McDonald’s is in the front of the building and possibly could use some more lighting in the front, since people are less likely to do things like this in plain sight or if you are in a group of people. This may be a “big brother” type of answer, but perhaps a camera at the locations outdoors might help as well.

  6. Visitor [Join Now]
    Tina Browning [visitor]

    Hey Sheila…you CAN order them online and then just go pick them up. The only sucky part…can’t use codes that way.

  7. Visitor [Join Now]
    debra [visitor]

    I reside in Colorado and feel safe with all of the Redboxes…indoors and outside….. I always take my dog with me if I go out late and or bring along a friend, but if folks feel unsafe for good reason……use your common sense mode…..think safety…..

    For the most part waiting in line is not an issue as folks around here appear to enjoy sharing movie information, etc. So good luck all.

  8. Visitor [Join Now]
    Dirk Diggler [visitor]

    The redbox I go to feels pretty safe. It’s right near the Woodlands Texas (which is a nice area). But there should be more indoors. I havent seen any indoor ones in this area.

  9. Visitor [Join Now]
    Kelly [visitor]

    Just like everything else, somebody will find a way to screw a good thing up..

    Personally I never go by myself, and I would take my dog if I honestly had to.

    My husband usually takes care of the movie rentals there.

  10. Visitor [Join Now]
    kathy Tyler [visitor]

    I always use the one at Walgreens it is very safe- there are always alot of people there. I usually look up the movies online so I can pick my movie very quickly and nobody gets pissy waiting for me to decide.

  11. Visitor [Join Now]
    Pam [visitor]

    Most should be indoors. Those that are outside should have a security camera that records as the process is taking place. OF COURSE NOTHING IS BETTER THAN COMMON SENSE. DO NOT GO TO AN OUTSIDE BOX LATE AT NIGHT ALONE. (OR EVEN WITH SOMEONE) BE AWARE of your surroundings even in an indoor box. DO NOT FLASH CASH when you open your wallet to get your pulse or credit card out. Be careful. Don’t be a victim and be proactive in the choices you make.

  12. Visitor [Join Now]
    Confused [visitor]

    Kelly, is your husband immune to a gunshot and you are not?

    If someone wants to make a robbery, it doesn’t matter if you’re a petite woman or a “manly” man, they’ll get what they want from you.

  13. Visitor [Join Now]
    Bob [visitor]

    Its is not the locations, it is the crazy people out there and the hard times we are in.

  14. Visitor [Join Now]
    Theo [visitor]

    Bring it on. From now on, at night, I’ll just bring my son — a Marine just back from Iraq — with me. He didn’t see much action and was (thankfully) bored there. He has a concealed permit, carries a .45, and is itchin’ to shoot a bad guy!

  15. Visitor [Join Now]
    Kelly S. [visitor]

    Leo…lol. Thanks I needed the laugh! :-)

  16. Visitor [Join Now]
    Kelly S. [visitor]

    …oops…sorry the above was supposed to be “Theo”

  17. Visitor [Join Now]
    Gary [visitor]

    maybe if the outside units were a drive up option instead of a walk up, people would feel safer in their own vehicle.

  18. Visitor [Join Now]
    Amazed [visitor]

    You can get robbed going any where alone after midnight. ATM machines where you actually get money out of the box have a better chance of being a target spot. A redbox only accepts credit cards and rent for one dollar. Let’s not make every incident into a major issue.

  19. Visitor [Join Now]
    Nikoli [visitor]

    Perhaps the Redboxes should have cameras like ATM’s to discourage thieves.

  20. Visitor [Join Now]
    jimi [visitor]

    keep em outside,so we can use them when we want.
    move to texas get a concealed handgun licence and give the crooks what they need

  21. Member [Join Now]

    I think it’s all about timing. Redbox encourages me to rent movies late at night. If I rent a movie after mindight (12:01 AM Monday Morning, for instance), I am able to keep the video for a full extra day (Tuesday Night at 9:00 PM). I think if they made it so you could return the video at 9 PM, rent a video at 9:01 PM and keep it for a full extra day (as illustrated above), people would not be encouraged to rent late at night, thus lowering the possibilities of crime.

  22. Visitor [Join Now]
    Sam [visitor]

    I normally take an armed bodyguard to rent my movies. So I don’t worry much.

  23. Visitor [Join Now]
    Chrissy [visitor]

    I love that some of the redbox’s are outside. I have 2 small children and it is a total drag to try to bring them in with me while I get a movie. So I park in the space next to the redbox and rent my movie (I check online first to see what I want as to not leave the kids in the car a long time). But this way, I am next to the car and don’t feel bad about getting a movie. Also, it is nice if you decide to rent last minute for a late night. Alot of the stores of the indoor ones may not still be open.
    If some don’t feel safe at the outdoor redbox’s, then they have the choice of going to one that is indoors during that store’s hours. But keep it a choice for sure!

  24. Visitor [Join Now]
    Julie [visitor]

    I feel safe using the RB after dark, but I suppose that comes from living in a small town. I don’t feel as safe at another location, which is in a bigger town.

  25. Visitor [Join Now]
    Richard [visitor]

    Redbox management should research the outside locations to minimize these violent incidents.

    Also, how about one machine for renting, one machine for return to speed the process up and help with “Queue Rage”?

  26. Visitor [Join Now]
    mike ward [visitor]

    I think I am legend was a rip off.I watched this
    movie and I though I seen this part before and I did.
    The last man on earth(1964)with Vincent Price,One part
    was the same in which He had a dog(Price)and had to kill it when it got sick RIP OFF 2 The Omaga Man(1971)well do I start there was a few parts taken
    from this movie.Like the part when he was to be kill
    ed then this woman saves him just like in Omaga Man
    the woman had a boy with her just like in Omaga Man
    I like movies that don’t rip off from other movies
    from a movie fan who does not like being riped off

  27. Visitor [Join Now]
    andy lee [visitor]

    Redbox is awesome. The crazy people aren’t. Just pray and use common sense. Robbery from $1 dvd box and cc seem kinda weird for me, too. And just relax, things happen, keep the common sense and prayer, though.

  28. Visitor [Join Now]
    Michele [visitor]

    I love the outdoor locations as I work late nights anyway. BE SMART about things. I use my discover card that fits on my keychain so I don’t even have to bring my wallet to the box. I just grab my cell and my keys leaving my purse locked in my glove box. the McD’s has a 24 drive thru and the gas station across the road is a police substation.. just remember to think about the location. The redbox in question is in a low traffic area during daylight hours so why go there at night?

  29. Visitor [Join Now]
    MALISSA [visitor]

    Wasn’t I am legend based on a book written in the late 50’s? Dawn of the dead and many movies were based off the orginal book…

  30. Visitor [Join Now]
    Judy [visitor]

    I feel so much better when you are inside cause there is always someone else there so if something were to happen, there would be suspects or some kind of hero to come and save ya!! They should have McDonalds Redboxes built inside, so you could go in and order somethin and while waitin, rent a dvd!!

  31. Visitor [Join Now]
    Brad Doyle [visitor]

    The only thing I don’t like is that some of the people are complaining that they need to do this or do that. Come on people. I understand this is America and it’s all about greed, but it’s a dollar. If you don’t feel safe, find another location, or spend more at a video store. I live fairly close to that McDonalds, in fact, I worked at that one back in high school. Redbox or the owners of redbox really shouldn’t have to change the way they do business because there are people out there afraid of hard work. Instead of robbing someone at a redbox, go inside and fill out a job application. But this is St. Clair County. Even if they catch the person who did this, he’ll probably get probation. Sorry, I’ll get off my soapbox now.