Polite Bandit Sentenced in Bank Holdups

Santa Ana - A retired Pasadena police officer was sentenced today in federal court to 13 1/2 years in prison for his guilty plea to robbing two La Habra bank branches that led him to be dubbed as the "Polite Bandit" by the FBI.

Vincent Edward Cantu, 46, was sentenced to 162 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $37,338 in restitution by U.S. District Court Judge Cormac Carney, according to Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Cantu worked for the Pasadena police department for about four years, according to federal court records. He retired in 1996 because of a knee injury.

The FBI reportedly dubbed him the "Polite Bandit" because he would apologize to tellers as he robbed the banks.

Cantu, who was arrested Aug. 27, 2008, pleaded guilty in a deal with prosecutors May 5.

Cantu robbed a Pacific Mercantile Bank branch in La Habra on June 24, 2008, according to his plea deal. He showed a handgun to a teller and demanded at least $10,000. He made off with $10,978 according to the plea deal.

Cantu held up the Banco Popular branch in La Habra on Aug. 15, 2008, using a .40-caliber gun, and got away with $10,679, according to his plea deal. Prosecutors agreed to drop charges for robberies Nov. 23, 2005, May 25, 2006, and Aug. 28, 2006.

Cantu was forced to retire because of his knee injury, which has worsened as he battles diabetes, his attorney Darryl L. Exum said in court papers filed before the sentencing.

Cantu grew bitter because his colleagues on the force did not keep in touch with him. Cantu had a troubled upbringing with an alcoholic father and developed his own drinking problem after the retirement, Exum said.