Thieves beat man with tire iron outside Costa Mesa motel

A man was beaten with a tire iron outside a Costa Mesa motel Wednesday morning when he interrupted two men trying to steal tires off his car, according to authorities.

The man is an employee who works and lives at the Travelodge at 1400 Bristol St., police said.

Around 6 a.m., he confronted the two thieves and warned them he was going to call police, Costa Mesa police Sgt. Mike Manson said.

The man was attacked with a tire iron swung at his head, Manson said. The man blocked that blow with his arm but he was struck repeatedly in the arms and legs before the thieves fled in a black vehicle with paper plates, Manson said. The vehicle may have been an Infiniti, Manson said.

The attackers got away with one tire, according to police.

Authorities took the man to Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach for treatment of injuries. “From what we can see, it was nothing life-threatening,” Manson said.

Police said both thieves were men who appeared to be in their 30s.