Police in various agencies are searching for a man they believe to be responsible for 20 armed robberies at fast-food restaurants across Orange County this month.

The two most recent, on Wednesday, had the same pattern as previous crimes: A man walked in with a handgun, demanded cash and fled on foot.

But on Wednesday, a man robbed two fast-food restaurants 20 minutes apart in different cities, authorities said.

A Santa Ana Crime Scene Investigator takes photographs after a male armed with a handgun robbed a Pizza Hut in the 2000 block of West 1st Street around 8:20 p.m. in Santa Ana on Wednesday, July 26, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

A male armed with a handgun robbed a Pizza Hut in the 2000 block of West 1st Street around 8:20 p.m. in Santa Ana on Wednesday, July 26, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

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A Santa Ana Crime Scene Investigator marks evidence after a male armed with a handgun robbed a Pizza Hut in the 2000 block of West 1st Street around 8:20 p.m. in Santa Ana on Wednesday, July 26, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

A male armed with a handgun robbed a Pizza Hut in the 2000 block of West 1st Street around 8:20 p.m. in Santa Ana on Wednesday, July 26, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

A Santa Ana Crime Scene Investigator collects evidence after a male armed with a handgun robbed a Pizza Hut in the 2000 block of West 1st Street around 8:20 p.m. in Santa Ana on Wednesday, July 26, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)



At 8:20 p.m., July 26 the suspect entered a Pizza Hut at 2003 W. First St. in Santa Ana and handed the cashier a note demanding money and displayed a handgun in his waist, Santa Ana Police Sgt. Rosa Ponce De Leon said. The man fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash, he said. Witnesses said the suspect was a Hispanic man wearing dark sunglasses and a black jacket.

Nearly 20 minutes later, a man matching the same description robbed a Subway at 2309 W. Chapman Ave. in Orange. The man entered the restaurant at 8:42 p.m., handed a note to the cashier demanding money and displayed a handgun in his waist, Orange Police Department Lt. Jennifer Amat said. He got away on foot with cash, Amat said.

On Tuesday, July 25, a McDonald’s restaurant in the 3000 block of Bristol Street was robbed by a man at 4:22 p.m., according to Costa Mesa Police. Further details on how much the money the robber took and a description were not yet available. (Photo by Southern Counties News Service)

On Tuesday, July 25, a McDonald’s restaurant in the 3000 block of Bristol Street was robbed by a man at 4:22 p.m., according to Costa Mesa Police. Further details on how much the money the robber took and a description were not yet available. (Photo by Southern Counties News Service)

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On Tuesday, July 25, a McDonald’s restaurant in the 3000 block of Bristol Street was robbed by a man at 4:22 p.m., according to Costa Mesa Police. Further details on how much the money the robber took and a description were not yet available. (Photo by Southern Counties News Service)





On Tuesday, a McDonald’s restaurant in the 3000 block of Bristol Street was hit at 4:22 p.m., Costa Mesa police said. The suspect presented a note demanding cash while showing a handgun tucked into his waistband, Lt. Greg Scott said.

After getting cash, he fled on foot, with a witness calling police. A Huntington Beach Police Department helicopter pitched in to help during the search, but the man wasn’t found.

Santa Ana police have released images of a suspect in a robbery of a Jack in the Box at Harbor Boulevard and Hazard Avenue. On Monday, July 24, a man walked in at about 8:30 p.m. and brandished a gun as he handed a note to the cashier demanding money. The man was handed cash and left.

That was the third fast-food robbery in seven days on Harbor Boulevard.

Fountain Valley police have reported four robberies over five days in the last week and are working with other agencies to determine if the culprit is the same person. The victims: a Subway, a Roasting Water cafe, a Del Taco and a KFC.

“In each of these incidents, the loss was currency,” Sgt. Kham Vang said in a statement. “Each incident appears to be related.”

Authorities are searching for a suspect, seen here in different incidents, believed to have robbed several restaurants in Orange County at gunpoint. (Photo Courtesy of the Fountain Valley Police Department.)

Authorities are searching for a suspect, seen here possibly wearing a wig, believed to have robbed several restaurants in Orange County at gunpoint. (Photo Courtesy of the Santa Ana Police Department.)

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Authorities are searching for a suspect, seen here, believed to have robbed several restaurants in Orange County at gunpoint. (Photo Courtesy of the Santa Ana Police Department.)

The suspect is seen inside a CN Wireless, mobile phone store, during a July 11 robbery. (Photo Courtesy of the Garden Grove Police Department)

The suspect is seen inside a Wendy’s restaurant during a July 13 robbery. (Photo Courtesy of the Garden Grove Police Department)



The suspect is seen inside a Pizza Hut restaurant during a July 14 robbery. (Photo Courtesy of the Garden Grove Police Department)

The suspect is described by police as a Hispanic, 25- to 35-year-old man who is 5-feet-10 to 6-feet tall with a medium to heavy build He has short, black, curly hair with a a medium complexion.

In several robberies, he had on dark glasses; and in some he appeared to be wearing a wig.

Fountain Valley police said the suspect has tattoos near his left ear and front and back collarbone.

There have been some variations on the description.

Anyone who has information is asked to call Fountain Valley police at 714-593-4485, or Detective Brent Emerson at 714-593-4466; or Santa Ana Detective Duane Greaver at 714-245-8362 or at Dgreaver@santa-ana.org. Anonymous tipsters can go to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

A partial list of recently robbed businesses:

July 11, 12:02 p.m.; CN Wireless; 10181 Westminster Ave., Garden Grove

July 12, 8:52 p.m.; Subway; 14920 Beach Blvd., Westminster

July 13, 2:09 p.m.; Wendy’s; 10040 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove

July 14, 10:33 p.m.; Pizza Hut; 10092 Westminster Ave., Garden Grove

July 15, 9:54 p.m.; McDonald’s; 9852 Westminster Ave., Garden Grove

July 17, time unavailable; El Pollo Loco; 101 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana

July 18, time unavailable; McDonald’s; 666 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana

July 19, 8:19 p.m.; Subway; 16373 Harbor Blvd., Fountain Valley

July 20, 9:20 p.m.; Del Taco; 1301 E. Katella Ave., Orange

July 20, 10:06 p.m.; Subway; 13961 Harbor Blvd., Garden Grove

July 22, 12:47 p.m.; Roasting Waters; 11707 Edinger Ave., Fountain Valley

July 22, 2:53 p.m.; Taco Bell; 8511 Westminster Ave., Garden Grove

July 22, 8:42 p.m.; Pizza Hut; 10072 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove

July 22, 9:13 p.m.; Del Taco; 17295 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley

July 24, 5:28 p.m.; KFC; 17239 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley

July 24, 8:30 p.m.; Jack in the Box; 820 N. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana

July 24, 9:40 p.m.; Chipotle; 16241 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach

July 25, 4:22 p.m.; McDonald’s; 3099 S. Bristol St., Costa Mesa

July 26, 8:20 p.m., Pizza Hut; 2003 W. First St., Santa Ana

July 26: 8:42 p.m., Subway; 2309 W. Chapman Ave., Orange.