IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif. - A man was in custody Tuesday on suspicion of robbing an Imperial Beach pharmacy at gunpoint -- with a BB gun -- less than 10 minutes after he attempted to hold up a nearby nail salon.

Sheriff's deputies detained the man in the 500 block of Seventh Street about 7:45 p.m. Monday because he matched the descriptions given by the victims in of the robbery and attempted robbery, according to San Diego County sheriff's Sgt. Joel Stranger.

He was arrested and booked into San Diego Central Jail after victims identified him, the sergeant said in a statement.

The man allegedly entered J&T Nails at 635 Ninth St. around 5:55 p.m. Monday and asked an employee at gunpoint where the cash register was. When the employee replied that the salon didn't have a cash register, the man fled on foot empty-handed, Stranger said.

Within minutes of fleeing the salon, the man allegedly walked into Imperial Beach Pharmacy at 720 State Route 75 and took $169 at gunpoint.

Upon his arrest, the man confessed and some of the money from the pharmacy robbery was recovered, according to Stranger. The weapon used in the crimes was also recovered, he said, describing it as a pellet handgun.

The man's name was not immediately released.