Police seek more suspects in watch store robbery

COSTA MESA — Police on Wednesday continued to search for suspects related to a watch store robbery where thieves made off with 40 watches.

One man who police believe may be connected to the crime was arrested for outstanding warrants Tuesday, but no one has been charged with the robbery, said Lt. Paul Dondero of the Costa Mesa Police Department.

Two masked men robbed Watch Connection store at 3033 Bristol St. at 11:48 a.m. Tuesday before taking off in what witnesses described as a white Honda Accord, according to police.

Store employees spotted the masked men approaching the door and moved to a back room to activate the alarm.

No one was injured. The robbers did not point guns at the employees, but police said they used fear to get what they wanted, making the crime more of a robbery rather than a routine burglary.

Later, witnesses spotted a BMW speeding out of Costa Mesa into Huntington Beach. When Huntington Beach police stopped the car, two men matching the description of the suspects were in the car in possession of two replica handguns, police said.

The stolen watches have not been found.

The exact value of the watches was not available from police or from the store Wednesday afternoon.

—Lauren Williams