IRVINE : Restaurant Manager Is Beaten by Robbers
The manager of an El Pollo Loco restaurant was struck repeatedly with a baseball bat when he was unable to open a safe quickly enough for a band of robbers, Irvine police said.
Four men wearing ski masks and gloves and armed with knives and the bat entered the restaurant, at 88 Corporate Park, at 12:25 a.m. Sunday through the front door, Police Sgt. Tom Little said. They confronted manager Mariano Perez, 30, of Laguna Niguel and employee Jose Rodriguez, 24, of Santa Ana and demanded a key to the safe.
When he was unable to open the safe, one suspect struck Perez several times on the head and shoulders and demanded that he open it. But before Perez could comply, the suspect struck him several more times on his upper body.
The suspects tied up the two employees with nylon cord, put them in a small locker room and fled with between $2,500 and $3,000.
After 15 minutes, Perez and Rodriguez were able to free themselves and called police.
They were treated at the scene by paramedics and taken to Irvine Medical Center. Both men were treated and released.
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