Man Held as Suspect in 2 Bank Robberies
A 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of robbing two Old Town banks over the past two weeks and may face federal charges, police said Friday.
Arnold Joseph Robles, 22, of Orange, is suspected of taking $6,000 from Wells Fargo Bank, 101 E. Chapman Ave., and Bank of America, 345 E. Chapman Ave. The robberies occurred Oct. 1 and again Tuesday.
In both robberies, Robles allegedly handed tellers deposit slips saying that he had a gun and wanted money, Lt. Trey Sirks said. Fearing for their safety, the tellers complied and Robles allegedly fled on foot, Sirks said.
“It’s a unique method of operation,” Sirks said. “He doesn’t show his weapon.”
Orange robbery investigators identified Robles from physical evidence at the bank and began staking out places he was known to frequent.
They arrested him Thursday night at an Old Town bar and retrieved about $1,500 in cash from his residence, Sirks said.
He is being held on $60,000 bail in Orange County Jail. Police are investigating him for potential involvement in other robberies. The FBI has also placed holds on Robles for bank robbery, Sirks said.
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