PUBLIC SAFETY Tip of the hat to...

PUBLIC SAFETY

Tip of the hat

to this thief

There apparently is no good way to guard against tip theft.

That lesson has been learned all too painfully by workers at Oh

Those Donuts, which has experienced an outbreak of nipping into the

tip jar during the past eight months or so.

“I don’t know,” said owner Steve Metro. “I seriously don’t know

what to do about this.”

On Sept. 19 and 26, the store’s digital cameras caught the alleged

tip thieves in action. Metro has put up the photos on the shop wall

asking people to look out for the men. If caught, the men could be

charged with petty theft, which is stealing something worth $400 or

below, or with commercial burglary, which requires proof that the

suspect walked into the store with the intention of stealing the

money.

* Newport Beach police and federal agents are looking for a serial

bank robber they call the “Give Me More Bandit,” who they believe

robbed three Newport-Mesa banks and two other banks elsewhere in the

city over the last two months.

The man, believed to be in his 30s or 40s, reportedly robbed the

Wells Fargo branch in Costa Mesa on Aug. 6 and two Bank of America

branches in Newport Beach on Sept. 30 and another as recently as

Tuesday, officials said.

In all robberies, the man threatened the teller with a weapon, but

did not exhibit it. But police still believe he should be considered

armed and dangerous. The same man also reportedly robbed a bank in

Anaheim on Aug. 28 and a Fountain Valley bank on Thursday.

Officials have released surveillance pictures of the man and say

they expect to arrest him soon. Anyone with information is asked to

call the Newport Beach Police Department at (800) 550-6273.

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at [email protected].