Top Story:Suspected robber nabbed

GLENDALE — Police arrested a man they believe is the so-called "Irreconcilable Differences" bandit Tuesday as he fled a Glendale bank, ending a spree of 17 attempted bank robberies since December, including two alleged attempts last week in Burbank.

The robber, who police believe was 55-year-old Alan Freibaum, earned his moniker after he robbed his first bank in Beverly Hills, asking the teller to help him wire money in a way that would go undetected by his wife's attorney, as he was in the middle of a divorce.

At about noon on Tuesday, Glendale Police were alerted to a robbery in progress at the Wells Fargo Bank at 535 N. Brand Blvd., Officer John Balian said.

Officers were already patrolling the area, following a robbery on Friday at a Citibank on North Brand Boulevard, he said.

"We were actively patrolling Brand because that happens to have half of our banks in the city and close access to the freeway," he said.

A bank security guard flagged down police officers on Tuesday and pointed out where the suspect was headed, Balian said. Officers found the suspect walking nonchalantly through a drive-through at a fast-food restaurant on Central Avenue and Doran Street, he said.

"Officers stopped the suspect and took him into custody without incident," Balian said.

The bandit had made an unsuccessful robbery attempt in Burbank on Friday at a Bank of America on 142 E. Olive Ave., said Laura Eimiller, spokeswoman for the FBI, which has also been tracking the suspect.

The man walked to a teller, placed a note on the counter that said he had a gun and demanded the $50 and $100 bills, Eimiller said.

"The note, which he took with him when he left, was printed on the back of a deposit slip," Eimiller said. "The teller advised she didn't have any money in her drawers and he exited the bank."

Less than an hour later, the man turned up at the Citibank at 360 Magnolia Blvd. in Burbank, slipping the teller a note that said "No alarms please" and again demanded $50 and $100 bills, Eimiller said.

The man fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of money and traveled to Citibank in Glendale later that afternoon, she said.

At the Glendale bank, the man also passed a note to the teller, saying that he had a gun, Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said and the man escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash.

During the Glendale robbery, the man appeared apologetic, Eimiller said.

"He approached the teller and asked her if she was having a good day, then went on to say that he apologized for having to do this," she said. "But as he was apologizing, he passed a note that said, 'I have a gun.'"

Local law enforcement agencies are working with the FBI regarding the investigation and the U.S. Attorney's office will decide whether potential charges will be filed at the district or federal level, Balian said.