Bank Robbery Bomb Scare in Fountain Valley

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA—A man who claimed to have a bomb in his backpack robbed about $500 from a Fountain Valley Bank of America branch today.

The suspect entered the bank at 16192 Harbor Blvd. about 3:45 p.m. and approached a teller, according to Fountain Valley police Sgt. Tony Luce.

"The suspect grabbed a hold of the teller's hand and demanded money,''Luce said. The clerk handed over about $500 and the suspect fled, Luce said.

"As he fled, the suspect said he had a bomb in his backpack, which was left inside the bank,'' Luce said. The bank was evacuated until the Orange County Sheriff's Department bomb squad determined there were no explosives in the pack, Luce said.

The suspect was described as white, 40 to 45 years old, with a graybeard. He wore a light green shirt and a light camouflage baseball cap.

Anyone with information about the suspect was urged to call the Fountain Valley Police Department's Investigations Bureau at (714) 593-4468.