Robbery suspects arrested

Costa Mesa police have arrested two suspects in connection with three daytime holdups in the area since last month.

Ian Michael Keegan, 47, of Costa Mesa and Gregory Steven Burton, 40, of Irvine were arrested on suspicion of commercial robbery, police said. In all of the holdups, the robber was accused of pretending to have a handgun while demanding cash, according to police.

The robbers held up the Vons grocery store at 185 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa, about 1:22 p.m. Dec. 27; the Big 5 Sporting Goods store, 2324 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, about noon Sunday; and the Rite Aid drug store, 3209 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, about 2:15 p.m. Monday, according to police.

In each of the stickups, the robber left in a white truck with a getaway driver, police said.

On Tuesday, Costa Mesa detectives spotted a truck like the one they were looking for at 17th Street and Newport Boulevard in Costa Mesa. When police pulled over the truck Burton was driving and Keegan was the passenger, police said, adding that Keegan matched the description of the robbery suspect seen in security videos.

Police suspect Burton was the getaway driver during the robberies, Sgt. Bryan Glass said.

Investigators have also collected evidence associated with the stickups, but did not disclose more details about the evidence. The two men were being held without bail at Costa Mesa jail.

Detectives are checking with other agencies to see if the two may have been involved in other robberies, police said.

PAUL ANDERSON is the city editor for the Daily Pilot. He may be reached at (714) 966-4633 or at paul.anderson@latimes.com.