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LA HABRA – A man believed to be the “bubble wrap bandit” has been arrested in connection with several bank robberies in Orange and Los Angeles counties, police said Thursday.
Francisco Gallegos, 34, of Cudahy, was arrested Saturday on suspicion of robbing a U.S. Bank branch inside the Vons supermarket at 2101 of W. Imperial Highway, La Habra police spokeswoman Cindy Knapp said.
The robbery was reported at 4:30 p.m. after a heavyset man, later identified as Gallegos, walked in the branch and presented a note demanding cash, Knapp said. No weapon was seen.
Gallegos was seen fleeing west on Imperial Highway in a white Volkswagen compact vehicle, police said.
A detective spotted a vehicle matching the suspect’s. Gallegos led the detective on a short pursuit, which ended when Gallegos was involved in a traffic collision at Elmcroft Avenue and Firestone Boulevard in Norwalk, Knapp said.
Gallegos was taken to a hospital to be treated for injuries sustained in the crash. The next day, he was booked on suspicion of two counts of robbery and one count of burglary at the La Habra Police Department.
Gallegos pleaded not guilty during his arraignment hearing on Tuesday and is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 19 for a pre-trial hearing, court records show. He is being held at the Orange County Jail in lieu of $1 million bail.
Gallegos is believed to be the “bubble wrap bandit” wanted for several bank robberies in Bell Gardens, South Gate and La Mirada, according to an FBI website.
Contact the writer: 714-704-3709 or desalazar@ocregister.com
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