Encinitas

Two of four suspects have been arrested in connection with the robbery of three illegal aliens early Thursday in the hills near the 700 block of Encinitas Boulevard in Encinitas, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said Thursday.

In custody are Daniel Lopez Bojorquez, 21, and Cuachtemoc Pennelas Parra, 19, both gardeners. Both men are from Encinitas.

The victims, laborers Jose Luis Orduno Gutierrez, 25; Santiago Castanedo Avendano, 33, and Eliseo Jarquin Zarate, 28, told authorities that four men, two of whom had 10-inch knives, robbed them of jewelry and clothing about 1 a.m. Thursday.

One of the victims, Avendano, was beaten and suffered a fractured nose. He was taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital-Encinitas, where he was treated and released, authorities said.

Sheriff’s deputies sealed off the canyon and called in a helicopter to search for the two remaining suspects and other possible victims. Because of the amount of blood found in the area, deputies suspected there may have been other victims.

Bojorquez and Parra are being held in County Jail on suspicion of three counts each of robbery, one count each of possessing stolen property and one count each of battery with injury, authorities said. Each is being held in lieu of $22,000 bail.