Huntington Beach : Beach Blvd. Is Scene of 2 Armed Robberies

Two apparently unrelated armed robberies, of a savings and loan and a record store, happened on Beach Boulevard within an hour of each other Wednesday, police said.

Huntington Savings & Loan Assn., in the 19700 block of Beach Boulevard, was robbed by a man carrying a large-barrel automatic pistol, Police Lt. Patrick Gildea said.

He said the man entered the building about 4 p.m., while it was still open, demanded money from tellers, ordered them to lie down, then fled north on foot.

The robber was described as 38 to 45 years old; 5 feet, 8 to 11 inches tall, with curly hair. He was wearing a light-colored cap, dark-rimmed sunglasses, a white T-shirt and a light-colored jacket, Gildea said.

About 5 p.m., The Wherehouse record store in the 16900 block of Beach was robbed at gunpoint. The robber approached the store manager and demanded that he open the safe and put all the cash into a bag. The robber fled east on foot, Gildea said.

The second robber was described as being in his early 20s, about 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighing about 190 pounds and having blond shoulder-length hair. He was dressed in a denim jacket and jeans and wore a mask resembling the face of an old man.

“We have had a series of robberies in this town lately,” Gildea said, “but they’re all unrelated.”

The amount stolen in the two robberies was not available Wednesday. Gildea said there were no reports of injuries in either holdup.