Newport Beach : Robber Might Have Hit 3 Banks in One Day

Two banks in Newport Beach and one in Huntington Beach were robbed Friday afternoon by a man claiming to have a gun.

“It might be the same guy in all three, but nobody knows for sure right now,” said Huntington Police Sgt. Lloyd Edwards.

Police had not determined the amount of cash taken in any of the robberies as of Friday evening.

The first robbery took place about 1 p.m. at the Bank of Newport at 2101 E. Coast Highway, followed by another robbery an hour-and-a-half later at the Union Federal Bank at 901 Dover Drive in Newport.

In each, police said, the robber told a teller he had a gun and demanded money. No weapon was seen. Police described the man as white, 25 to 28 years old, about 6 feet, 1 inch tall and weighing 150 pounds, with short brown hair and a two-day growth of beard. He was reported wearing a baseball cap and Oakley mirrored sunglasses.

At about 3:30, the third bank--the Southern California Bank at 9042 Garfield Ave. in Huntington Beach--was robbed of an undetermined amount of cash by a man also claiming to have a gun. Police gave a similar description of the man and said he fled in a tan car.

Newport police said they are investigating the possible connection between the robberies and are developing a composite sketch of the suspect.