Pair Hits Brea Bank for About $100,000

Two armed robbers wearing wigs escaped with about $100,000 Friday after forcing a bank employee to let them into the vault, authorities said.

Although more than 25 customers inside the bank were held at gunpoint, no one was injured during the six-minute robbery, which occurred about 10:20 a.m. at a First Interstate Bank of California branch at 280 S. State College Blvd., FBI spokesman Wylie B. Cox said.

“They took over the bank,” Cox said. “These guys should be considered very dangerous. Any time somebody takes that long to rob a bank, they know they run the risk of facing law enforcement.”

The robbers, who were both armed with pistols, were seen driving away in a white compact car, possibly a Dodge Omni, Cox said.

One of the robbers matched the description of the “Tina Turner Bandit,” so-called because of the flamboyant brown wig he wears, Cox said. He is believed to be responsible for at least six other bank robberies in Orange County.

The other robber wore a blond wig.

But Cox noted that the “Tina Turner Bandit” usually works alone.