Masked men rob bank in Newport

Police are looking for three masked men who stormed a Newport Beach bank, emptied the cash drawers, then got away in a white SUV.

About 11 a.m., police said, witnesses reported seeing men wearing home-made masks walk into Bank of America, 2501 Eastbluff Drive, in the Eastbluff Shopping Center.

“This is a robbery, everyone get on the floor!” the robbers shouted, according to police.

Two of the men jumped over the counters and emptied the cash drawers into a white mesh bag, said Sgt. Evan Sailor.

The men were in and out of the bank in three minutes, he said. No witnesses reported seeing weapons, he said.

Officers at the scene found a white Chevy Tahoe reported stolen from Los Angeles this morning unoccupied with the engine running behind the shopping center. Police believe the men used it to get away from the scene and switched cars there.

— Joseph Serna