Masked Gunmen Rob Oxnard Restaurant

Two masked gunman burst through the back door of a Mexican restaurant and tied up employees and customers before fleeing with cash and checks from the register and the victims, police said Saturday.

The robbery occurred shortly after 10 p.m. Friday at Mariscos el Pulpo in the 3500 block of Saviers Road, police said.

No one was injured.

The robbers bound the owner and several employees and customers with plastic ties and placed them face down on the floor, Oxnard Police Officer Jeff Kay said.

The gunmen spoke only Spanish during the robbery and threatened to shoot anyone who did not cooperate, Kay said.

They ripped out telephone lines and then fled on foot. About 20 minutes later, the owner freed himself and used a pay phone to call for help.

Police officers would not say how much money was stolen.

The gunmen wore black ski masks, black jackets and black gloves during the robbery.

One man was about 5 feet 5 and 170 pounds, and the other was about 5 feet 10 and also about 170 pounds. Both appeared to be Latino and in their early 20s. They were armed with black handguns, police said.