LAGUNA HILLS : Knife-Wielding Robber Sought

County sheriff’s deputies are investigating two robberies possibly involving the same knife-wielding bandit at a clothing store and a flower shop.

In the first robbery Friday afternoon at Wave Sliders on La Paz Road in Laguna Niguel, a man tried on a pair of shorts before confronting a clerk with a knife after all the customers had left the shop, sheriff’s authorities said.

The robber escaped with an undisclosed amount of money, authorities said.

Several hours later, about 7 p.m., a man fled with an undisclosed amount of money after holding up a clerk at knifepoint at Conroy’s Flowers on Avenida de la Carlota in Laguna Hills.

In that case, the robber walked up to a clerk and requested change for a dollar, authorities said. When the clerk opened the cash drawer, the robber threatened her with a knife and demanded money. He was last seen getting into a blue subcompact car, authorities said.

There were no injuries reported in either robbery.

Sheriff’s Lt. Richard J. Olson said investigators believe there is a possibility that one man was responsible for both robberies and several others in South County that occurred last week.