A Run on Banks : Latest Heists Boost to 20 the Total Since First of Year

Two more banks were robbed Tuesday, bringing to 20 the number of bank heists in Orange County in the first 22 days of the year, the FBI said.

“That’s high, but it’s been higher,” spokesman Frank Calley said.

The first robbery Tuesday occurred at 10:40 a.m. at the Bank of America branch at 2001 S. Main St., Santa Ana, Calley said.

The robber, described as a man in his mid-20s with black hair and sunglasses, handed a note to a teller demanding money, and indicated he had a gun, although none was seen, Calley said. The man quickly fled on foot, according to Calley.

Shortly after noon, the First Interstate Bank branch at 1329 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, was hit by a man who, like the robber in the earlier heist, handed a note to a teller and indicated he had a gun, although none was seen, Calley said.

Authorities described this man as brown-haired with a receding hairline, wearing a beige shirt and rust-colored vest.

The robber had an unusual method of operation--he stuffed the loot in a video cassette case, Calley said.

“It was empty when he went in, but it wasn’t when he went out,” Calley said. The robber fled on foot, he said.

The amount of money taken in both robberies Tuesday was not revealed.

Two banks--in Anaheim and Garden Grove--were hit Monday by a single robber who wore a red plaid shirt and a cap, authorities said.