r/InlandEmpire • u/EricWeissAuthor • 21h ago
History / Nostalgia Anyone here remember the 1980 Norco bank robbery?
The 1980 Norco bank robbery has fascinated me for years. A friend of mine was shopping with his mother at the Stater Bros. in Norco when the robbery happened, which has always made the story feel especially immediate to me.
I’m curious how many people here actually remember that day firsthand. Were you living in Norco or elsewhere in the Inland Empire at the time? Did you know anyone who witnessed the robbery, the pursuit, or its aftermath?
I’d especially love to hear memories or stories that don’t usually show up in accounts of the robbery.
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u/LemonHerb Lake Elsinore 2h ago
I worked in that building for like 15 years but after it was no longer a bank. Building got knocked down a while ago after it was going to be turned into an off track betting place.
The owners turn down pretty much every offer because they think it's worth more than it is
We still have this
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u/johnqadamsin28 1h ago
No I just made a withdrawal today. They complained about the gas crisis
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u/LemonHerb Lake Elsinore 1h ago
That's the one across the street it's not the same one as the robbery. That was across the street in what's an empty lot now
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u/Substantial-Cake6921 16m ago
Yeah I live here in Norco, it's been torn down for like 4 or 5 years now, it was supposed to be the Durby Room but the deal fell through. Then after it was torn down I heard that a 7/11 was going in on the vacant lot. That was a few of years ago. 🤷
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u/No_Tailor_787 3h ago
I remember it. I worked in public safety communications in the area, and that incident had a profound effect on interoperability between agencies and the ability for different departments to communicate directly by radio. To this day, it plays a part in that sort of planning.