Man sought in Seal Beach bank robbery may be linked to heists in Laguna Beach and 2 other cities

Authorities asked for the public’s help in identifying a masked man who robbed a bank in Seal Beach last week and possibly banks in Laguna Beach and two other cities.

The most recent robbery was reported just before 4 p.m. Thursday at the Chase Bank at 801 Pacific Coast Hwy. in Seal Beach. The robber was armed with a silver, long-barreled handgun, according to the Seal Beach Police Department.

“It does take it to another level with the open brandishing of the weapon and people seeing it and the direct fear of seeing that weapon,” police Sgt. Michael Ezroj told KTLA. “It does at least concern police from our end, because now we are responding to what we know and it’s confirmed as a weapon.”

The robber was described as white, about 6 feet 3 inches tall with a thin build. He was wearing a black or gray shirt, dark jeans and a black ski mask.

He fled the Seal Beach bank on foot. Police did not say how much money he got away with during the heist.

Authorities said the robber matches the description of a gunman who recently robbed banks in Laguna Beach, Torrance and the Playa Vista area of Los Angeles.

An hour before the Seal Beach robbery, a masked gunman robbed a Union Bank in Laguna Beach.

On Oct. 12, a man robbed a bank in Torrance, and on Oct. 7, a Bank of America in Playa Vista was robbed, authorities said.

The robberies are under investigation by the FBI and police agencies in multiple jurisdictions.

Anyone with information about the cases was asked to call Seal Beach police Det. Pete Krok at (562) 799-4100, ext. 1110.