BRIEFLY

Two masked robbers armed with shotguns escaped with an unknown amount

of cash from a Bank of America branch Saturday morning, officials said.

The two gunmen committed a “takeover style” robbery, entering the bank

in the 2700 block of Harbor Boulevard and ordering everybody to the

floor, said Costa Mesa Police Lt. Ron Smith. No one was hurt in the

heist.

The men took an unknown amount of cash from a teller, ran out and

drove away in a stolen Honda car, Smith said. They then drove a short

distance, stopped the car and fled on foot, he said.

“They were very quick,” Smith said. “We believe [their modus operandi]

is very similar to the ‘Gone in 60 Seconds’ bandits.”

That group, given the nickname for the speedy execution of their

robberies, has terrorized banks and convenience stores in Southern

California, eluding police and the FBI, for the last several months.

No accurate description of the robbers is available, except that both

were about 5-foot-9 with a stocky build, Smith said.

“Nobody could identify them because of the masks,” he said.