1972 United California Bank Robbery, Laguna Niguel
by Steve
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Did you know the largest bank robbery in the United States took place in Orange County?
In 1972, Phil Christopher robbed United California Bank, located in the Monarch Bay Shopping Center in Laguna Niguel, right off Pacific Coast Highway, and made off with $30 million.
The bank is still in operation today, though now operating as Bank of the West.
A new book, entitled, "
Superthief
", has been published accounting Christopher's firsthand account of the heist. It was written by Rick Porrello, who hosts the website
American Mafia. He was able to interview Christopher's wife, whom she communicated with Christopher himself, to get material for the book.
Superthief provides a raw and candid accounting of Phil Christopher's brutal street world and subsequent prison life, and spills the details behind the planning and execution of his breach of the bank's vault.
Labels: Bank-Robberies, Laguna-Niguel
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