A Rolex store at South Coast Plaza was burglarized Friday evening when five male suspects smashed a glass case and stole several items, police said.

Costa Mesa police were called to the watch store at 8:22 p.m. with reports of shots fired, Lt. Joyce LaPointe of the Costa Mesa Police Department said.

The gunfire reports turned out to be untrue. Shoppers likely mistook the the sound of glass being broken for gunshots, LaPointe said.

During business hours, five men in hooded sweatshirts and masks quickly entered the store, physically controlled a security guard, smashed a glass case, stole an unknown amount of merchandise and fled, according to a Costa Mesa Police Department news release.

How many items were taken was still unclear as of Saturday afternoon.

Santa Ana police found a black Chevrolet Impala that investigators believe the suspects used to flee the mall about a mile away in the 3700 block of Lowell Street, said Sgt. Michael Claborne. The car had been reported stolen in Brea.

Evidence related to the crime was found within the car, according to the news release.

The mall was not shut down.

Costa Mesa Police detectives are working with federal law enforcement agencies to investigate the crime.

Rolex store employees declined to comment.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Costa Mesa Police Department detectives at 714-754-5637.

Staff writer Samuel Mountjoy contributed to this report.

Contact the writer: 714-796-2478 or lcasiano@ocregister.com