July 13 (UPI) -- A Texas police officer responded to an unusual plea for help when a Good Samaritan called 911 to report someone slipped a note through the receipt slot of an ATM, saying they were trapped inside.

The incident happened Wednesday at a Bank of America branch in Corpus Christi.


Officer Richard OIden told KRIS-TV he arrived at the scene after the repairman had pushed out handwritten notes that read: "Please help. I'm stuck in here, and I don't have my phone. Please call my boss."

At first, Olden said he thought someone was playing a prank. Then he heard a faint voice coming from behind the machine and realized someone was actually inside.

The repairman, who was not identified, had gone inside the room housing the ATM to fix a broken lock on the door. Unfortunately, the lock got the better of the worker and he'd left his cellphone in his truck, rendering him helpless, according to the Corpus Christi Caller Times.

The man had apparently put several notes through the machine, though previous customers either didn't notice them or thought they were a joke.

When police realized what had happened, they kicked open the door to the security room, freeing the man inside.