Law firm in Newport robbed

A senior partner in Klein & Wilson, a law firm robbed at gunpoint last week, said Tuesday the office will increase security. Meanwhile, police are hunting for the two suspected robbers.

Attorney Gerald Klein said that while robbery was a rare occurrence for a law firm, the hold-up showed just how easy it would be for someone with a grudge to walk in and do something violent.

“We’re not really afraid of street crime,” Klein said. “But it shows that any goofball could walk in there. We’re going to have regulated access.”

The firm’s receptionist was the most affected by the robbery. She had to face a robber with a rifle on her first week on the job.

The robbers only got about $200 in what Klein called “one of the dumbest crimes of the year.”

“Who robs a law firm?” he asked. “It says ‘Klein and Wilson, Attorneys’ — not ‘Klein and Wilson, Savings and Loan.’ ”

Newport Beach police released information Tuesday about the crime, which occurred last Thursday at about 4:10 p.m. in the 300 block of Old Newport Boulevard. Two men had entered the firm twice earlier that day, asking about how to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. When they returned the third time, one of them was carrying a rifle.

The robbers took the receptionist’s jewelry and purse, and ran away, police said. Police have released composite drawings of the suspects.

Police described the first suspect as a black man, 30 to 35 years old, 5-foot-9, 135 pounds, with short or shaved hair. He was wearing a blue-and-white long-sleeved shirt and blue jeans.

Police said the second suspect, the alleged gunman, is a black man, 29 to 32 years old, 6-foot-tall, 190 pounds, with short or shaved hair and a heavy build. He was wearing a black leather jacket, blue jeans and black shoes.