Robber’s Gun Goes Off in Cystal Court

A robber’s gun accidentally discharged at the J.W. Robinson Co. department store in Costa Mesa’s Crystal Court before the thief fled with at least $17,000 on Monday, authorities said. No one was hurt.

Costa Mesa Police Sgt. James Watson said the lone gunman forced a female employee from a credit office to a rear cashier room. After he encountered other employees, he took cash estimated at between $17,000 and $25,000, stuffing it into a trash can.

“In his excitement,” Watson said, the gunman dropped his gun, which went off.