A male wearing an orange wig and all black clothing brandished a weapon and held up the Nordstrom store at the Shops at Mission Viejo Mall after closing time and escaped before deputies arrived, authorities said.
The armed robbery occurred about 8:30 p.m. Saturday at the Nordstrom in the mall off Marguerite Parkway and Shops Boulevard, said Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Carrie Braun.
The store was scheduled to close at 8 p.m.
The suspect fled with an unknown amount of cash, Braun said. No shots were fired. One person suffered what was described as a minor injury while attempting to flee the mall and was treated by Orange County Fire Authority paramedics.
Members of the sheriff’s SWAT team searched for the suspect in and around the mall and removed some people who had sheltered in place, Braun said.
Deputies evacuated anyone on scene and checked the area to make sure it was safe before speaking with witnesses.
“It takes some time, with a mall of that size,” Braun said.
Most of the shops inside the mall were closed at the time. Exterior shops and restaurants were open at the time of the robbery.
#OCSDPIO UPDATE: We are hearing of inaccurate reports on social media regarding this incident. This is not a hostage situation. The initial calls reported an armed robbery at Nordstrom. @ocsdswat assisting with clearing the entire mall at this time.
— OC Sheriff, CA (@OCSheriff) September 12, 2021
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The Sheriff’s Department later said in a tweet: “Based on witness reports, the suspect left the mall shortly after the armed robbery occurred.”
Kathy Nickerson, from Lake Forest, and her husband were about to sit down for dinner at the Cheesecake Factory at about 8:50 p.m. when they were told they needed to evacuate.
“Police cars started zooming by us,” Nickerson said.
The couple saw deputies enter the building with their rifles drawn.
Sheriff’s officials said posts on social media saying that the incident involved hostages were incorrect.
#OCSDPIO Police presence at the Shops at Mission Viejo Mall. Multiple callers are reporting an armed person is inside the mall. The person is described as a white male wearing an orange wig and all black clothing. No shots have been fired and no one is believed to be injured.
— OC Sheriff, CA (@OCSheriff) September 12, 2021
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Source: Orange County Register
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