Fullerton police make arrest in Landscape Bandit case

A man suspected of robbing a number of Orange and Los Angeles county banks, including a Union Bank in Newport Beach, will face federal charges today after being arrested by Fullerton Police earlier this week.

Michael R. Varela, 37, of Montclair was arrested outside of a Fullerton gas station Tuesday while pumping gas, police said. Detectives followed the man from his home in the morning to the convenience store where he was arrested, police said.

Varela was suspected of robbing a Bank of the West Branch in Fullerton on June 1. The FBI nicknamed the robber the “Landscape Bandit” He got the nickname after witnesses told authorities the robber wore gardening clothes. A man fitting that description held up the Union Bank, 1666 San Miguel Drive, on April 10, Sgt. Evan Sailor said.

“The suspect came in with a hand-written note demanding money,” Sailor said. “If you give me everything you have no one will get hurt” is what the teller told police the note said. He never showed or threatened a weapon, he added.

Varela is suspecting of making off with $3,600 from the Newport Beach robbery, Sailor said.

Valera is scheduled to appear in the U.S. District Court this morning and is expected to be charged with a bank robbery in Anaheim. Varela is suspected of having robbed as many as five banks from Diamond Bar to Newport Beach, authorities said.

A conviction would be a third strike, making him eligible for a life sentence, authorities said.

— Kelly Strodl