Bank robber suspected in several hits countywide

Costa Mesa police scoured local neighborhoods Tuesday for a man possibly involved in six county bank robberies, authorities said.

Just before 3 p.m., the robber walked into the First Bank at the corner of Harbor Boulevard and Baker Street and slid a demand across the counter to one of the tellers, police said. Bank staff gave him an undisclosed amount of money, and he left through the front entrance, Sgt. Don Holford said.

Witnesses report last seeing the man heading west on Baker Street, police said.

He was described as a white male, 50 years old, 6 feet tall, weighing 200 pounds and having a large dark mustache, police said.

The FBI Los Angeles Division believes the suspect may be the “Armada Bandit,” who struck six other county banks, police said.

Police ask that anyone with information on the event call Det. Dana Potts at (714) 754-5363.

— Kelly Strodl