Employees of a Costa Mesa liquor store turned the tables on a would-be robber Sunday, Dec. 3 by locking him inside the business, police said Monday.

Around 2:30 p.m. a 39-year-old man entered Powers Liquors at 1888 Placentia Ave., and handed a note to employees demanding cash, Lt. Greg Scott said.

The workers fled from the store after locking the man inside, setting off an hour-long barricade situation, Scott said.

Police negotiated by phone with the man, who claimed to have a gun.

The man eventually surrendered, Scott said. He was booked into the Orange County Jail on suspicion of robbery.