Bank Robber Threatens with Explosives, Pantyhose on Head

NEWPORT BEACH / IRVINE – A bank robbery suspect was pulled over on the 405 freeway and arrested after police were able to match him with the description given by a witness to the robbery.

According to police, Bradley Thomas Oloughlin, 50, who resides at 794 Cardinal Ct. in  Arroyo Grande, Calif., allegedly robbed the Bank of America branch located at 1016 Irvine Avenue in Newport Beach.

Police received a call at approximately 10:39 a.m., Thursday Feb. 5, from a witness inside the bank who said that the robbery had just occurred. The suspect was described as carrying a black duffle bag and wearing pantyhose over his head. He reportedly approached a teller and demanded money while verbally threatening that he was armed with an explosive device.

The witness was further able to supply police with a partial license plate number on the car that the suspect used for his get away – 6ELMM.

A patrol officer spotted a silver 2009 Cadillac shortly thereafter, with license plate 6ELM485, transitioning from the northbound 55 freeway to the southbound 405.

A short pursuit followed and the car was stopped on the freeway between Jeffrey and Sand Canyon. Oloughlin was then taken into custody without incident.

Police recovered from the vehicle the bank’s stolen money and the pair of pantyhose the suspect had placed over his head to disguise his identity.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad was also called in and a bomb sniffing dog used to search the car.

No explosives were found.