Gunman in ‘Hollywood-style’ mask is sought in bank robberies in Corona del Mar and Costa Mesa

Authorities are seeking a gunman who robbed two banks in two days in Corona del Mar and Costa Mesa this week while disguising himself as an elderly man with a “Hollywood-style” mask and a pillow stuffed down his shirt.

The robber’s most recent heist took place about 2:40 p.m. Friday at a Citibank at 234 E. 17th St. in Costa Mesa, the FBI’s Los Angeles field office said.

It followed a robbery that occurred about 3:50 p.m. Thursday at OneWest Bank at 3700 E. Coast Hwy. in Corona del Mar.

In Friday’s robbery, authorities said, the man reportedly entered the bank with a gun and fled with cash. No injuries were reported.

Police searched the area but did not find the man, officials said.

In Thursday’s robbery, “the suspect entered the bank and brandished a black semiautomatic handgun as he demanded money from the teller,” according to a statement from the Newport Beach Police Department.

He obtained about $8,000 before fleeing on a black electric bicycle, police added.

No customers were in the bank at the time, and no injuries were reported, police said.

In addition to the mask and pillow authorities said he used, surveillance images from the Corona del Mar robbery showed the gunman wearing sunglasses, a black beanie, a suit jacket, a button-down shirt and white gloves.

He was described as 5-foot-7 to 6 feet tall and about 200 pounds.

Anyone with information about the cases can call Newport Beach police Det. Mike Fletcher at (949) 644-3779 or the FBI field office at (310) 477-6565.

Daily Pilot staff contributed to this report.

UPDATES:

This article was originally published at 10:50 p.m. March 8 and was later updated with additional information.