Community Corner

Bank Robbed Twice by Same Knife-Wielding Man?

Los Alamitos police are looking into the possibility that the man who robbed the US Bank recently, is the same man who held it up last year with a butcher's knife.

Los Alamitos Police are asking for the public’s help in finding a bank robber who may have held up the same bank twice in the last year.

On the morning of June 30th, a man walked into the US Bank on Pine Street armed with a 9” kitchen knife, said Capt. Bruce McAlpine, Los Alamitos Police Department spokesman.

“It looks like he approached one of the tellers and told (him or her) to get their keys and go around back, and he demanded the money from them,” said McAlpine. “It looks like he had a couple of the customers at the teller’s window lie down on the ground while he filled his bag.”

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The robber made off with $5,470, added McAlpine. The suspect is described as 6-0, 175 pounds, and he was wearing dark pants, a dark hoodie, sunglasses and a baseball hat.

Police are investigating the possibility that the suspect is the same man who held up the bank with a butcher’s knife on June 21 of last year.

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According to bank employees, the man walked into the bank, displayed a butcher’s knife and forced employees to hand over money. He was described as 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds with a goatee. At the time of the burglary, he was wearing sunglasses, a black cap, a long-sleeved black shirt and jeans and carried a black backpack.

The Los Alamitos Police Department and the FBI are investigating the case. Authorities released surveillance images from the first robbery in hopes that someone could help identify him. Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to contact Detectives at 562-431-2255 ext. 405.


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