Teller Helped Boyfriend Rob Torrance Bank, Police Say

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TORRANCE (CBSLA) – A bank robber in Torrance demanded cash from a teller who turned out to be his girlfriend, authorities said Wednesday.

Torrance police report that on Oct. 2, 2017, Chandler Leniu (left) robbed a bank with the help of his girlfriend Marlene Wickham, a teller at the bank. (Torrance Police Department)

On the afternoon of Oct. 2, Torrance police say 21-year-old Marlene Wickham helped her boyfriend, 21-year-old Chandler Leniu, steal thousands of dollars from an Opus Bank branch located at 23600 Hawthorne Blvd.

According to police, Leniu entered the bank and approached the teller, Wickham, with a demand note. After receiving thousands of dollars in cash, he fled.

Investigators with Torrance police and the FBI later learned that Wickham was Leniu's accomplice.

The two Long Beach residents were arrested Oct. 6 on felony charges. Only a portion of the stolen money was recovered, police said.

Wickham is being held on $50,000 bail and Leniu is being held on $100,000 bail.