Local News in Brief : 3 Bank Robberies Markedly Similar

Three financial institutions--in Huntington Beach, Cypress and Irvine--were held up and robbed within the span of an hour Thursday, with similar descriptions given of the robber and method. FBI investigators, however, said there wasn’t enough evidence to link the crimes.

Officials gave the following accounts:

A Constitution Federal Savings office at 5900 Ball Road, Cypress, was robbed at 2:30 p.m. by a white man in his mid-40s dressed in blue jeans. He was described as about 5 feet, 7 inches, of medium build and carrying a pistol. He received an unknown amount of money before leaving on foot.

The California First Bank at 2001 Michelson Drive, Irvine, was robbed at 2:57 p.m. by a white man dressed in jeans and a cap and appearing to have a handgun under his jacket. He demanded money from a teller and fled on foot with an unknown amount of money.

At 3:15 p.m., a white man walked up to a teller at Universal Savings, 19141 Magnolia St., Huntington Beach, and requested cash from her drawer. The teller gave the suspect the money and a bait bag, which contains a dye and smoke. But the robber apparently recognized what it was and threw it down. Employees had to vacate the bank until the air was cleared. The suspect was described as in his middle 40s, about 5 feet, 8 inches, medium build and cleanshaven, with gray-silver hair. He was reportedly wearing Levi’s jeans, a jacket with a brown corduroy collar and possibly a Levi’s cap. He obtained approximately $150.