4 Banks, 1 S & L Hit by Robbers in 2 1/2-Hour Span

There was a run on Orange County banks Tuesday--by robbers.

Four banks and one savings and loan were hit by bandits within a span of 2 1/2 hours in Tustin, Irvine, El Toro, Fountain Valley and Laguna Hills, authorities reported.

“We had an FBI agent in here, and he seemed a little pooped out,” said Tustin Police Sgt. Paul Wright.

Authorities said they did not know whether the robberies were related or whether five in one day was a record.

“I’ve never kept score,” said Orange County Sheriff’s Lt. Larry Khune.

The first robbery occurred in Tustin at 12:59 p.m. A man entered the El Camino Bank, 300 El Camino Real, handed the teller a note and a paper bag and demanded money, “which he received,” Wright said.

The man was described as black, about 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing about 140 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, Wright said. He was wearing a long-sleeved leather jacket and possibly blue jeans, Wright said. The robber “disappeared in an unknown direction” with $1,583, Wright said.

The next heist occurred at 1:45 p.m. at Bank of America’s Woodbridge branch, 4500 Barranca Parkway, Irvine, when a man handed a teller a note demanding money, said Irvine Police Sgt. Mike Ogden. No weapon was seen, and the robber fled on foot with about $170 to $300, he said.

The robber was described as a white male with a dark complexion, about 30 years old, with dark brown hair and brown eyes, about 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighing about 160 pounds, Ogden said. He was wearing an orange knit cap, brown jacket and dark pants, Ogden said.

Twenty-seven minutes later, a man passed a note to a teller at a Bank of America branch at 23831 El Toro Road, El Toro, indicated that he had a weapon and made off with about $400, said Sheriff’s Lt. Larry Khune.

Description of Robber

The robber was described as a dark-haired white male, about 6 feet, 2 inches tall, and wearing a T-shirt, white jacket and black hat, Khune said.

He fled in a gold or brown Chevrolet or Ford with yellow-on-black California license plates that had two Cs, Khune said.

At 2:32 p.m., a Latino male entered Barclays Bank, 18085 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley, and handed a teller a note demanding money and indicating that he was armed, police said.

The robber was in his mid-20s, 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing about 150 pounds, with dark brown curly hair, said Sgt. Ron Manda. He was wearing a gray jacket, sweat shirt and dark pants and needed a shave, Manda said. No vehicle was seen as he fled with about $900, Manda said.

At 3:25 p.m., a robber struck at Gibraltar Savings, 24260 El Toro Road, Laguna Hills, escaping with about $2,000, Khune said.

The robber was described as a white male, about 20 years old, about 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighing about 155 pounds. He fled on foot and no weapon was seen, Khune said.