Gunman robs elderly women

Two elderly women were robbed at gunpoint early Saturday in a parking lot in front of Nordstrom at South Coast Plaza, police said.

The women, both in their mid-70s, were walking through the parking lot on the north side of Nordstrom at about 8 a.m. when a man got out of a car and pointed a sawed-off shut gun at them, police said.

The women, one a resident of Newport Beach and the other, an Irvine resident, surrendered their purses to the man. He then got back in the car and drove away. Police conducted an area search, but could not find the suspect.

Neither woman was hurt; the estimated loss is unknown, police said.

A Nordstrom customer-service representative said the store was open early at 8 a.m. for a special event.

The suspect was described as male aged between 20 and 25, wearing dark clothing. The car was an older model, dark-colored compact car, police said.