Authorities investigating possible connection in string of OC armed robberies

IRVINE, Calif. (FOX 11) - Authorities were investigating a possible connection between a string of recent armed robberies in Orange County after two more were reported Wednesday night in Santa Ana and Irvine.

The first was reported at 10:30 p.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott hotel on MacArthur Place in Santa Ana. A masked man with a gun walked into the hotel and demanded cash, police said.

A hotel employee gave the suspect an undisclosed amount of money before the suspect fled.

Approximately 30 minutes later, a masked man walked into 7-Eleven in the 8600 block of Irvine Center Drive in Irvine and attempted to rob a clerk at gunpoint, police said.

Surveillance video shows the suspect, wearing a black mask and white shirt, confront the convenience store clerk with a gun. The clerk refused to give the suspect any money.

The suspect fled on foot without taking anything from the store, according to Irvine police.

Two liquor stores were robbed at gunpoint Monday night in Mission Viejo, police said. In both instances, two masked suspects were reported to be armed and demanded cash.

In total, investigators know of at least 10 armed robberies in the past month and believe they may all connected, according to the Irvine Police Department.

Multiple law enforcement agencies were working together to investigate any connection.