Police Seek Shirtless Armed Bandit Who Switched Cars

Police are looking for a man who robbed a market at gunpoint Tuesday and escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash before disappearing in Costa Mesa.

A bag of cash and the gun used in the holdup were found in an abandoned 1979 Toyota about 5 miles from where the robbery occurred, police spokeswoman Maureen Thomas said.

The robber escaped by changing getaway cars after he held up the Amar Ranch Market in the 1300 block of West Edinger Avenue at 10 a.m., Thomas said.

Thomas said the robber, who wore no shirt, walked into the store, threatened the manager and another employee and demanded that the safe be opened.

The manager was then ordered to put the cash into a pillowcase that the robber was carrying, Thomas said.

The robber walked outside and fled in a Pontiac Sunbird, Thomas said. Witnesses called police, giving the description of the car and the man.

Police chased the Pontiac to St. Gertude Place and Rene Drive, where the robber jumped out and began running. Before he could be apprehended, however, he got into a silver Toyota and drove along Harbor Boulevard toward the San Diego Freeway. The car was found later at Sunflower and Hyland avenues.

With the help of a Costa Mesa police helicopter and police canine units from Santa Ana, officers combed the area near Harbor Boulevard and Sunflower Avenue for several hours, but were unable to locate the robber, Thomas said.