3 suspects in Lake Forest bank robbery are still being sought

The search continued Tuesday for three men wanted in a violent robbery of a Bank of America branch in Lake Forest the day before, authorities said.

The men, wearing disguises that included a blond wig, a Halloween mask and a straw hat, took over the bank branch in the 22000 block of El Toro Road about 9:15 a.m., said Orange County sheriff’s Lt. Fred Furey.

The robbers forced bank customers to the floor. One customer, who was pregnant, went into false labor, Furey said. One of the robbers pistol-whipped a teller.

After failing to get into the bank’s main vault, the robbers took money from the tellers’ cash drawers.

Sheriff’s officials were particularly concerned about the robbers’ “needless violence,” which included striking a cooperative male teller over the back of the head with a handgun, Furey said.

“We’re doing as much of the media outreach as possible before future incidents that could involve escalating violence,” he said.

The bank employee was treated at a hospital and released.

The robbers abandoned their stolen getaway vehicle, a white GMC Jimmy sport utility vehicle with a switched license plate, a short distance from the bank. One robber’s straw hat was found in the vehicle, Furey said. Authorities believe the three men most likely fled in another vehicle.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI are conducting a joint investigation. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call (714) 628-7170.

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susannah.rosenblatt @latimes.com