Armed men rob two Costa Mesa businesses

Two men with handguns robbed two Costa Mesa businesses within half an

hour of each other Wednesday afternoon, police said.

The first incident happened just after 4 p.m. Wednesday in the

3100 block of Harbor Boulevard, Costa Mesa Lt. Dave Anderson said.

Two men entered a furniture store and waited for customers to

leave. When the store cleared, each of the men took out a handgun and

demanded cash, police said.

They left empty handed after searching the safe and the manager,

Sgt. Marty Carver said.

Half an hour later, two men with the same description ordered food

at a pizza place in the 800 block of Baker Street, Anderson said. One

threatened to shoot the clerk if he didn’t cooperate while the other

man, brandishing a handgun, emptied the cash register, police said.

The men fled on foot.

-- Marisa O’Neil