Mexican Restaurant, Employees Robbed

Three men entered the back door of a Mexican restaurant early Saturday morning, tied up four workers at gunpoint and stole their wallets and $9,000 in restaurant receipts, police said.

Irvine Police Sgt. Dwight Henninger said the three men surprised the four employees just after closing time at Chevy’s Mexican restaurant at 4700 Barranca Parkway. At least one of the men had a handgun and demanded the employees hand over their wallets, jewelry and watches and the day’s receipts from the restaurant.

The men fled after tying up the employees, police said. There is no indication that the employees knew the robbers, police said.

“We’ve had a few of these at closing time at Coco’s, which is directly across the street from the shopping center where Chevy’s is,” Irvine Police Sgt. Tom Hume said. “It’s not that abnormal.”