4 Men Arrested After Failed Bank Robbery

Police arrested four men Friday after an attempted stickup of a Home Savings of America branch, officials said.

The identities of the four men, all believed to be in their 20s, and other details about the robbery could not be disclosed yet, said Det. Jim Fountain of the Los Angeles Police Department’s robbery division.

“The investigation is going on as we speak,” he said.

FBI spokeswoman Laura Bosley said it was too soon to determine whether any of the men might be responsible for a rash of bank robberies in the San Fernando Valley this year.

The attempted holdup at the Home Savings branch in the 8000 block of Vineland Avenue occurred about 11:30 a.m., authorities said.

Witnesses told police that men burst into the bank yelling at the customers and employees to get down.

Bosley said at least two men jumped over the counter and demanded money from tellers.

Witnesses told police that one of the men yelled: “Everybody down. Who’s got the keys to the vaults? Open all of them. Get them over here or I’ll start shooting.”

Bosley said only one man is known to have had a handgun.

At least one other simulated a gun by holding his hand under his shirt, officials said.

Police arrested the alleged robbers while they were still inside the bank, Bosley said.

There were no shots fired or injuries reported, authorities said.