Coast : Officials Suspect Two Robberies Are Linked

Winchell’s Donut House establishments in Huntington Beach and Seal Beach were held up within 40 minutes of each other late Thursday night, police said Friday.

Similarities between the robberies and in the suspects’ description were “close enough” to warrant further checking, Huntington Beach Police Sgt. Michael Relic said Friday.

The Winchell’s shop in the 6700 block of Warner Avenue in Huntington Beach was robbed about 11 p.m. Thursday by two young men, one of whom brandished a “blue steel automatic” at a lone woman employee, Relic said.

In Seal Beach, the Winchell’s at 12th Street and Pacific Coast Highway was held up shortly before 11:43 p.m. Thursday by two young men, one of whom carried a “blue steel revolver,” Sgt. Kenneth Mollohan said.

In both cases, the robbers fled on foot with about $55 in cash.

The suspects in the Huntington Beach case were described as males between 17 and 20 years of age. One was about 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighing 160 pounds with dark-brown, collar-length hair. He was wearing a dark windbreaker jacket and blue jeans. The second suspect was described as about 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing 145 pounds with dark, curly, collar-length hair. He was wearing a tan jacket and blue jeans and had a tattoo on the left side of his neck.

In the Seal Beach incident, one suspect was described as about 19, 5 feet, 5 inches tall, weighing 140 pounds with brown hair. He was wearing a dark blue shirt and khaki pants. The second suspect was described as about the same age with brown curly hair, about 5 feet, 10 inches tall and of medium build. He was wearing a dark shirt and blue jeans.