A Huntington Beach man was behind bars Thursday on suspicion of robbing at least five banks in Irvine, Anaheim and Hacienda Heights.
Ryan Alan Niedringhaus, 38, was arrested Wednesday evening, according to Kim Mohr of the Irvine Police Department.
The most recent bank robbery occurred about noon Wednesday at the East West Bank branch at 5402 Walnut Ave., which is in the 99 Ranch Market, Mohr said. It was the third time he allegedly hit that bank, Mohr alleged.
The bank robber handed a teller a note demanding cash, took the loot and ran off, Mohr said. A security guard chased the suspect outside and got the license plate number on the getaway vehicle, Mohr said.
Investigators used the information to help narrow down their search to Niedringhaus and began surveillance on his home, Mohr said. Meanwhile, an off-duty Irvine officer spotted the getaway vehicle abandoned in the Trabuco Canyon area, Mohr said.
Police found the suspect at a restaurant nearby in Foothill Ranch and arrested him, Mohr said.
Police said they have recovered evidence linking the suspect to the robbery, and investigators also claim he admitted other stickups dating back to June:
— an attempted robbery at a Chase Bank branch in Hacienda Heights on June 1;
— the robbery of a Chase branch in Anaheim on June 8;
— a robbery at a East West Bank branch in 99 Ranch Market in Irvine on June 29; and
— the attempted robbery of the East West Bank branch at 99 Ranch Market on Aug. 30.
The total loss in the robberies was about $11,000, Mohr said.
Niedringhaus, who is unemployed, was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.
–City News Service