Would-Be Robber Refused Service at 2 Restaurants
Sheriff’s deputies were searching for an armed man who tried to rob two South County restaurants Sunday night but left empty-handed in both tries, authorities said.
The man struck first around 7:30 p.m. at the LaFerme restaurant on Marguerite Parkway in Mission Viejo, said Lt. Rich Paddock of the Sheriff’s Department.
The robber entered the restaurant and said he had a reservation, said Jean Shoaee, the owner. He then pointed a handgun at the hostess and demanded money, but left when she told him there was no money in the till, Shoaee said.
About 20 minutes later, the man tried robbing a McDonald’s on Rockfield Boulevard in Lake Forest. Pointing his gun at the teller, he demanded money but left when the teller refused to give him any.
Paddock said the unsuccessful robber is about 19 years old, 5-feet-7 and was wearing a baseball cap at the time.
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