CARLSBAD (CNS) - A man believed to have robbed three Orange County banks over the last several months struck again Tuesday, this time in northern San Diego County, authorities reported.
The thief, who claimed in a demand note to be armed with a concealed gun, robbed a US Bank branch office in the 7700 block of Carlsbad Village Drive about 10:30 a.m., according to the FBI. No weapon was seen.
The same bandit is believed responsible for holdups at a Wells Fargo in Laguna Hills on May 16; at a Citibank in the same city on July 16; and at another Citibank in the Lake Forest on July 25, authorities said. He's been dubbed "The Hills Bandit" by investigators.
Witnesses have described him as a roughly 5-foot-7-inch, 190-pound white man in his mid-40s to early 50s. During each of the heists, he wore large black-rimmed glasses and a baseball cap with a Raiders or Chargers logo, and carried a blue bank bag.
Anyone with information about the robberies was asked to call San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Tipsters may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.