Countywide : Gunmen Rob S&L; and Bank, 1 Man Arrested

Gunmen robbed Orange County financial institutions in two separate incidents Tuesday afternoon, with police capturing a suspect in one of the holdups while a suspect in the second was being sought.

The first holdup was reported at 2:30 p.m. at a Fullerton Savings & Loan Assn. branch, at 3020 W. Lincoln Ave. in Anaheim. The second was reported at 4:05 p.m. at a Wells Fargo Bank branch, at 24251 Rockfield Blvd. in El Toro. There were no injuries in either incident, authorities said.

The first holdup occurred when a man carrying a briefcase entered the savings and loan office, produced a handgun and demanded cash of a teller, Anaheim Police Lt. Jim George said. He left with $3,000, George said.

Within minutes of the robbery, George said police were contacted by witnesses who reported following the suspect to the Silver Moon Motel, 212 S. Beach Blvd., Anaheim.

With bank surveillance photographs taken during the robbery, officers determined that a man matching the suspect’s description was staying at the motel, George said. Police arrested Slawomir Syzmanski, 35, of Cypress, who was booked into the city jail on suspicion of robbery.

A briefcase and handgun believed used in the robbery were recovered, along with all the stolen money, George said.

In the El Toro robbery, a man described as between 50 and 60 entered the Wells Fargo Bank, displayed a handgun and demanded cash, according to a spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

The suspect ran away with about $10,000 and was still being sought late Tuesday.