Suspect sought in liquor store heists

Jennifer Kho

Police are asking for the community’s help in collaring an armed

robber who has hit two Costa Mesa liquor stores as well as two others in

nearby cities.

A man armed with a blue-steel semiautomatic handgun robbed Minute King

Markets & Delis at 2052 Newport Blvd. in Costa Mesa on Friday afternoon,

police said.

Costa Mesa Police Sgt. Burt Santee said the suspect entered the store

at 4:41 p.m. and stole an undetermined amount of cash. No one was hurt.

The suspect fled before police arrived in a dark gray late 1990s model

four-door Ford with no license plates. He has also been seen fleeing the

scene of previous robberies in a dark green two-door Ford.

A man believed to be the same robber stole cash Aug. 15 from Buck’s

Liquor Barn at 1089 Baker St., said Costa Mesa Police Det. Bob Fate, who

is investigating the case.

Police describe the suspect as a male between 25 and 27 years old with

short brown hair, a mustache and goatee. On Friday, he was wearing

dark-framed sunglasses, a white T-shirt and blue or dark-colored shorts

with two stripes down the left side.

The suspect was also described as wearing very similar clothes during

the August robbery.

The robber has also hit a liquor store in Huntington Beach and one in

Fountain Valley. Costa Mesa authorities are working with police

departments in those cities, Fate said.

Anyone with information related to the crimes is asked to call the

Costa Mesa Police Department at (714) 754-5280.