BRIEFLY IN PUBLIC SAFETY

Man demands money with note at local bank

The Citi Bank branch in the 200 block of East 17th Street in Costa Mesa was robbed at 10:45 a.m. Friday, police said. A man walked in the bank and presented a note to the teller, demanding money. The teller gave over the money and the man walked out the door, Costa Mesa Police Lt. Dale Birney said.

The robber is described as Latino, about 40 years old, 5-feet-7 and 170 pounds. He was wearing a dark-colored polo shirt and a dark-colored baseball cap, police said.

Police say man ripped guardrail from bridge

A Costa Mesa man was arrested Thursday after he allegedly pried off pieces of a metal guardrail on a freeway overpass, police said.

Gary Lauterbach, 50, was seen ripping off pieces of the guardrail on the Bear Street bridge over the 405 Freeway at 6 p.m. Thursday, police said.

He reportedly dragged the pieces down an embankment and put them in his truck, which was parked behind Best Buy in the Metro Pointe shopping center.

Lauterbach was arrested on suspicion of grand theft and felony vandalism. Caltrans told police the metal and repairs will cost $3,000.

Man found hiding suspected of burglaries

Costa Mesa police arrested a man suspected of several car burglaries inside a Costa Mesa apartment complex when he was caught in the act by one of the car’s owners, police said.

A resident of the apartments in the 2700 block of Peterson Place saw a man inside his car at 5:30 a.m. Friday.

He confronted the man and the two got into a struggle.

The alleged burglar ran away and was later found hiding under a nearby car by police.

Donald Moch, 24, of Huntington Beach was arrested on suspicion of vehicle burglary.

Police believe he may be responsible for several other vehicle burglaries that were reported Friday in the same complex.