Two banks in Costa Mesa robbed early Friday

-- S.J. Cahn

Two Costa Mesa banks were hit by robbers Friday morning in separate

incidents that, police say, are not related.

In the first robbery, a knife-wielding man wearing a black ski mask

entered a credit union in the 2700 block of Harbor Boulevard about 9:45

a.m. and ordered the customers to the ground, police said.

Once they were on the floor, the man leaped the counter, grabbed an

unknown amount of money, and then leaped back over before rushing out of

the building, police added.

A witness outside the credit union saw the man get into a light-blue

compact car, authorities said.

It is unknown how much money he made off with.

Police describe the man as between 5 feet 11 and 6 feet 3, of average

build and about 25 to 30 years old. He was wearing a brown plaid shirt

and black pants.

The second robbery happened 45 minutes later, about 10:30 a.m., at a bank in the 500 block of West 19th Street.

Again, police say, a man made off with an unknown amount of cash after

handing a teller a note announcing he was holding up the bank.

The second robber is described as African American, in his late 20s,

of average build and wearing a dark jacket, white and red baseball cap

and baggy pants.

No escape vehicle was seen or heard in this incident.

Police ask that anyone with information call the Costa Mesa Police

Department at (714) 754-5281.