Suspected ‘Khaki Bandit’ arrested after tip

A citizen’s tip led to the arrest of a man whom police suspect has robbed banks in Orange and Los Angeles counties since May.

Authorities arrested Gerald Fedorka, 60, Thursday in Los Angeles after someone recognized him and called police, Irvine Lt. Rick Handfield said.

FBI officials said they were tracking two different sets of bank robberies they now attribute solely to Fedorka — three robberies in Los Angeles as the “Over the Hill Bandit” and seven in Orange County as the “Khaki Bandit.”

Fedorka, a transient, walked into the First Bank in Costa Mesa July 25 wearing khaki clothing and wire-rimmed “granny glasses” and handed the bank teller a note, reading “Don’t be stupid, I’ll kill you. Give me your money. Don’t be a hero,” FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said. Police and federal officials said there’s no indication Fedorka was carrying a gun.

Three days later Fedorka robbed a Citibank in Huntington Beach through the same method — passing a note to the teller demanding money and threatening their life, police said. Irvine police identified Fedorka as the lead suspect of a bank robbery there earlier this week.

Fedorka will appear in federal court in Los Angeles on Monday, officials said.

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at [email protected].