CL residents in bank during armed robbery

An adult male, wearing a mask, entered the California Coast Credit Union on Haun Road in Menifee on July 26 and demanded money while displaying a firearm. Photo provided by Google Maps

Two terrified Canyon Lake residents were in the California Coast Credit Union in Menifee last week during an armed robbery.

Jennifer Brunner was in the bank on Haun Road in Menifee with her 24-year-old daughter, Tayler Brunner, a Route 91 survivor, when the robbery occurred on Friday afternoon.

“He came in and started yelling,” Jennifer said. “He said it was a robbery and told everyone to get down. He was waving his gun around and yelling very loud to give him all the money. They gave him a lockbox that had money in it and the key, but he couldn’t get the key to work so he started screaming. The anger was building in his voice and he just kept yelling louder and louder. He finally got the box to open and ran out the door.”

Jennifer said the two found comfort in each other during the frightening incident.

“I wrapped my arms around my daughter and we continued to tell each other that we loved each other and that we would be OK,” she said. “We are so thankful we were together and thankful we are OK.”

Jennifer said she saw the man dropping money in the parking lot before he fled the area in a silver truck.

The bank remained on lockdown for approximately one hour after the robbery while the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department conducted an investigation and interviewed the witnesses.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s investigation revealed an adult male, wearing a mask, entered the business, demanded money while displaying a firearm and fled the location with an undisclosed amount of cash prior to the deputies arriving.

No citizens or bank staff were injured during the incident.

Deputies conducted a widespread search of the area, but did not locate the suspect. The Perris Station Burglary Suppression Team responded and assisted patrol deputies with the investigation.

The Perris Sheriff’s Station is asking anyone with information regarding the incident to contact Deputy Brown at 951-210-1120.