3 armed robberies at businesses in Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach and Irvine believed to be related

Authorities investigating three armed robberies Sunday night at businesses in Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach and Irvine believe they may be related.

The first robbery occurred just after 7:30 p.m. at an Irvine gas station where a man pointed a gun at a clerk and took cash, authorities said.

At 10 p.m., a man entered a Carl’s Jr. restaurant in the 900 block of Adams Avenue in Huntington Beach and pulled a gun out after asking for food. The man, described as black, 6-foot-2, about 150 pounds and wearing a black jacket and camouflage pants, was given money before he fled on foot, Huntington Beach police said.

At 10:25 p.m., an Arco gas station was robbed along Harbor Boulevard in Costa Mesa, authorities said. The robber was described as a black man, 6 feet to 6-foot-2, 190 to 210 pounds and wearing a black baseball cap with white lettering, a black jacket and olive-green cargo pants, Costa Mesa police said.

Officers searched a nearby motel but didn’t find a suspect.

A robbery also was reported shortly after 7:30 p.m. at Mitsuwa Marketplace, a grocery store on Paularino Avenue in Costa Mesa, but that incident was believed to be unrelated to the others, Costa Mesa police said.

Sclafani is a Daily Pilot staff writer.

UPDATES:

This article was originally published at 7:35 a.m. and later updated with additional details.