Local News in Brief : Irvine : Security Guards Bound, Blindfolded; 1 Robbed

Police on Tuesday were seeking three men who tied up and blindfolded two unarmed security guards at a computer firm’s warehouse before escaping with one victim’s wallet and keys.

The two guards are employed by American Protective Services and were working at the AST Research warehouse in the 16700 block of Aston Street when they were robbed late Monday night, Irvine Police Lt. Al Muir said.

About 9:45 p.m. Monday, one of the guards, Frank Rutledge, 68, of Fountain Valley, answered a knock on the door and was confronted by three men dressed in camouflage gear, with black “watch” caps and armed with what appeared to be automatic weapons, Muir said.

Rutledge was knocked to the ground, kicked several times and his eyeglasses were broken. The second guard, Patrick Waldron, 28, of Fountain Valley, was brought into the room and the two guards were tied up and blindfolded, Muir said. They told police the suspects were in the building for about 45 minutes before leaving.

Nothing was discovered missing except Rutledge’s wallet and keys, Muir said. However, the warehouse is divided into several rooms used by other companies that have not yet determined whether anything was taken, he said.