Police seek ‘Wrong Way Bandit’

COSTA MESA — Police are looking for a suspect who’s been dubbed the Wrong Way Bandit.

The man wanted by federal authorities for robberies around Orange County recently struck a credit union in Costa Mesa.

The Wrong Way Bandit — described as a 5-foot, 9-inch Latino, between 30 and 40 years old — was seen at the NuVision Federal Credit Union, 2701 Harbor Blvd., at 10:40 a.m. Friday, according to a Costa Mesa police news release.

In Friday’s heist, the man brandished a handgun and demanded an undisclosed amount of cash, police said.

The man is wanted in connection to other bank robberies dating from August in cities that include Garden Grove, Tustin and Fountain Valley.

The Wrong Way Bandit got his name during a robbery in which authorities said he allegedly began to exit to the left, but then turned around and exited to the right, according to FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt. Ed Everett at (714) 754-5395 or Det. Kevin Condon at (714) 754-5361.

— Lauren Williams

Twitter: @lawilliams30