Robbers Hitting Orange County Jewelry Stores Strike Again

Two men suspected of robbing a jewelry store in  Laguna Niguel struck again Tuesday in Mission Viejo, an Orange County sheriff's spokesman said.
 
The two men robbed Rita's Jewelry, 24451 Alicia Parkway, about 1 p.m.,  Orange County sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino said. One of the men pistol- whipped the store's owner, sending him to the hospital with serious head  injuries, Amormino said.
 
They also threw a clerk to the floor, but she escaped serious injury,  Amormino said.
 
The robbers grabbed about $100,000 worth of jewelry and fled in a cream- colored Lincoln Town Car with dealer plates.
 
One suspect is a black man about 6 feet 3 inches or taller, who was  wearing a black jacket and black hat. The other suspect was also black and  shorter, Amormino said.
 
``They appear to be the same suspects who robbed Pacific Park Jewelers  Jan. 20,'' Amormino said.
 
In that heist at 27271 La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel, an armed co-owner of  the store chased after a bandit and opened fire, but did not hit the suspect,  Amormino said. The bandits got away with a watch worth about $27,000 and a  diamond ring worth about $22,000, Amormino said.