FBI Issues Bulletin for 'Armed and Dangerous' Bank Robber

The FBI and Orange County Sheriff’s Department put out a bulletin Tuesday for a bank robber suspected of targeting banks all over Orange County, including Laguna Niguel’s US Bank on Alicia Parkway.

Dubbed the Gone Plaid Bandit for his penchant for plaid, the suspect struck again this week, robbing a U.S. Bank in Los Angeles Saturday.

Gone Plaid is among the FBI’s Top 10 Most Wanted bank robbers in southern California, and he is considered armed and dangerous, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Gail Krause. He is suspected in 11 banks robberies, primarily in Orange County from Yorba Linda to Laguna Niguel.

According to investigators, Gone Plaid  has dirty blond or brown hair, is between 20 and 30 years-old, weighs about 150 pounds, and stands about 5'6" to 5'8" tall.

At the time of the Laguna Niguel robbery on April 15, entered the bank in with a skateboard and presented the tellers at each bank with a note demanding cash. Police believe he also robbed a Yorba Linda Bank that same day. An Opus bank branch at 17672 Yorba Linda Blvd. was robbed about 10:35 a.m. and a U.S. Bank branch at 27120 Alicia Parkway was held up just after noon, said Orange County sheriff's Lt. John MacPherson.

During a Mission Viejo robbery last year, he handed a bank teller a note, Sheriff's Lt. Gary Strachan said. The note said he was there to rob the bank and that he was armed with a gun.

Anyone with information about the Gone Plaid Bandit, is asked to call FBI Special Agent Christopher Gicking at (714) 939-8699  or email him at Christopher.gicking@ic.fbi.gov.