Costa Mesa Police Hunting Bank Robber

Police were searching Saturday for a man who allegedly robbed a Costa Mesa bank, and authorities were holding another man and three boys who were arrested on suspicion of preparing to rob a Garden Grove bank.

Costa Mesa police said that about 11:15 a.m. Saturday, a man entered the Bank of America branch in the 500 block of West 19th Street in Costa Mesa and presented a teller with a note demanding money. Police said the man left with less than $1,000.

The robber was described by authorities as being about 35 years old, 6-foot-3, unshaven and having medium-length brown hair. Police said he was wearing a blue jacket and work shirt and tinted glasses.

About 7:40 p.m. Friday, Garden Grove police said they found three juveniles and Duc Minh Tran, 18, of Stanton, hiding behind a Security Pacific Bank branch in the 11400 block of Knott Street.

Garden Grove Police Lt. Ron Weigand said Tran and the youths were carrying gloves, bandannas, extra clothing and a loaded .22-caliber rifle. He said one of the boys is a bank employee.

Weigand said Tran was arrested for conspiracy to commit bank robbery and was being held Saturday at Orange County jail. The boys, whose names were withheld because of their age, were arrested on the same charge and were being held at Orange County Juvenile Hall.

Weigand said police investigators believe the group intended to take one remaining employee at Security Pacific hostage, then rob the bank. But he said the alleged plan was foiled when a bank worker called police to report that a suspicious person was standing behind the bank watching employees leave.