Crime & Safety
FBI Targets Fountain Valley's 'Count to 30' Bank Robber
The FBI is asking for help catching Orange County's serial bank robbers.
The FBI today appealed to the public today to help them catch four bank robbers suspected in nearly two dozen holdups since 2009, including a serial offender who robbed a Fountain Valley bank.
The Count to 30 Bandit is wanted for holdups at Fullerton Community Bank in Anaheim May 5, 2009; Independence Bank in Fountain Valley on April 5, 2010; a Wells Fargo branch in Buena Park June 4, 2010; and a Bank of the West branch in Anaheim on March 6, 2012.
He is described as Latino or Asian in his 20s to 30s, about 5 feet 10 inches and 170-180 pounds. He has been seen with a black semiautomatic pistol fitted with a light or laser sight.
The most prolific of the robbers on FBI's Orange County list is the "Gone Plaid Bandit," who is suspected of at least a dozen holdups over the past three years including a U.S. Bank in Laguna Niguel and a Chase Bank in Mission Viejo. The suspect got his nickname because of a plaid shirt worn in the first two holdups in which he's suspect. The most recent robbery was in late April.
He is in his 20s or 30s and about 5 feet 7 inches, with brown hair. He has been seen with "soul patch" under his lower lip. He often wears a long- sleeved, buttoned-up shirt and sunglasses.
In his four most recent robberies he made his getaway on a skateboard, Jim Amormino of the Orange County Sheriff's Department said.
The Gone Plaid Bandit is suspected of robbing a Comerica Bank branch in Marina del Rey April 26 and a U.S. Bank branch at 157 N. Larchmont Blvd. in Los Angeles the next day.
His heists date back to Feb. 17, 2010, when he allegedly held up a Wachovia Bank branch in Fullerton.
His holdups include:
- Feb. 7, 2011, at Wells Fargo branch in Yorba Linda;
- Feb. 11, 2011, at a Chase Bank branch in Anaheim Hills;
- May 16, 2011, at an East West Bank branch in Irvine;
- Jan. 6, 2012, at the Orange County Credit Union office in Yorba Linda
- Jan. 9, 2012, at a Chase Bank branch in Mission Viejo;
- Jan. 18, 2012, at the same East West Bank branch in Irvine he robbed in 2011;
- May 11, 2012, at a Wells Fargo branch in Yorba Linda;
- April 15 of this year at an Opus Bank branch in Yorba Linda and a U.S. Bank branch in Laguna Niguel.
Police said the Fuzzy Face Bandit is his 30s, about 5 feet 9 inches and 180-210 pounds.
The Iron Man Bandit, who was wearing a mask like the action movie character, is wanted for a holdup May 2 at a Citibank branch in San Clemente. He is white, in his 20s or 30s and about 5 feet 10 inches.
He was wearing "Iron Man" mask and a Hurley-brand black hoodie.
Another masked robber who was also wearing a hoodie robbed a U.S. Bank branch at 2740 N. Grand Ave. about 9:40 a.m. Tuesday, FBI Agent Chris Gicking said.
At least three other men tried to get into the bank, but the door they went to was locked, leaving the lone masked robber alone in his takeover-style heist, Gicking said.
The suspect ordered customers to the floor while he had a bank worker take him to the vault, Gicking said.
He grabbed a flimsy trash bag in the bank for his loot, but it broke, spilling cash, Gicking said, adding that about a third of it was recovered.
The mask, hoodie and gloves were left behind, Gicking said.
Information leading to the arrest of the suspects could fetch a reward. Tips can be phoned in to the FBI at (714) 939-8699 or by calling OC Crime Stoppers at (855) TIP-OCCS.
- City News Service
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
