An unshaven, gun-toting man robbed a Santee supermarket banking station Friday, possibly as part of a series of four similar holdups, authorities said.

The thief, who appeared to be in his 40s, entered the US Bank office in the Vons store on Mission Gorge Road in Santee about 10:30 a.m. and loitered for about five minutes before confronting a teller, according to the FBI.

He then lifted his shirt to display the butt of a pistol tucked in his waistband and demanded cash. He fled with an undisclosed amount of money.

The same man is believed to have carried out three other bank robberies in Santee and San Diego since mid-January, according to the FBI.

The bandit has been described as an approximately 5-foot-8-inch, 180- pound white man with gray stubble on his face. During this morning's robbery, he was wearing jeans, a white T-shirt with a San Diego Chargers helmet logo on the front, a navy-blue zippered jacket and a black baseball cap.

Anyone with information about the holdups is asked to call San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Tipsters may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

-City News Service