‘Bomb Bandit’ Gets $1,300 in Robbery

The bank robber dubbed the “Laguna Bomb Bandit” struck again Monday morning, escaping with about $1,300 from a local bank after warning a teller that he was carrying an explosive device, officials said.

Wearing a surgical mask, the bandit robbed the recently opened Downey Savings and Loan at 27120 Alicia Parkway about 10 a.m., according to Lt. Jay Mendez of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

The robber put a black backpack on the counter and told the teller a bomb was inside, Mendez said.

The same man is suspected in two other area robberies, and in both cases the robber threatened that he had a bomb in his black backpack, authorities said.

The first occurred on July 2 and was foiled when a teller at First Interstate Bank in Dana Point fainted. The next day, a robber took an undisclosed amount of cash from World Savings Bank in Laguna Niguel.

The suspect is described as white, about 5 feet 8, 145 to 150 pounds, with reddish-brown hair, authorities said. On Monday, he was wearing khaki pants, a green shirt over a white T-shirt and a green and khaki baseball cap, Mendez said. No one reported seeing the getaway vehicle, Mendez said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at (714) 834-6490.