Firearm-wielding Manhattan Beach jewelry store employee chases off five robbers
A group of masked, hammer-carrying suspects smashed into Manhattan Beach’s Prestige Jewelers for the second time in a decade over the weekend.
But this time, the thieves didn’t have time to pilfer an estimated $250,000 of Rolex watches and diamonds. This time, they got far less because of an employee.
On Saturday, five hoodie-wearing thieves smashed up the store’s jewelry showcases, according to Manhattan Beach Police. The worker pulled out a gun and fired on the suspects, eventually chasing them from the store, police confirmed.
In the previous robbery, two men were arrested after rampaging through display cases and jewelry boxes during a Sunday afternoon robbery in August 2014 that lasted less than a minute.
The only deterrence the men ran into that day was the screams of the store’s manager, which caught the attention of several nearby shoppers. She, along with others, called 911.
Watches worth about $250,000 were stolen last week at a Newport Beach jeweler, in a type of theft that state officials are hoping to better combat with new law enforcement funding.
On Saturday, the suspects fled into awaiting vehicles and headed southbound on Sepulveda Boulevard while police arrived shortly after the incident at 12:40 p.m.
Manhattan Beach Police announced the arrest of one suspect by the nearby Gardena Police Department on Sunday.
“The Manhattan Beach Police Department and our surrounding agency partners worked tirelessly to follow leads, and gather evidence,” Manhattan Beach Police Chief Rachel Johnson said in a statement. “We are grateful for the support and cooperation of the community in providing information that aided in the investigation in this case.”
The remaining suspects are still at large.
An image from security video released to news outlets shows five individuals in black, white and olive green hoodies wearing white or black gloves and masks.
One of the thieves is seen bashing a case while another pulls jewelry from a smashed-open display. Another burglar enters with a backpack and a large plastic container. A pair of customers can also be seen in the corner, huddling in fear. The thieves flee after a store employees fires a gun.
No employees were injured during the incident, although police said “some jewelry was taken.”
No other information was provided. Manhattan Beach and Gardena police did not respond to calls about the number of shots fired or the value of the stolen goods.
The officer killed in a motorcycle crash Wednesday was a survivor of the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas who risked his life saving others.
Alexandria Latragna, a spokesperson for the city of Manhattan Beach, said police were working with store owner Abe Asmar to inspect security footage.
Asmar offered no comment on the robbery.
The robbery came at a painful time for the Manhattan Beach Police Department, which lost motorcycle officer Chad Swanson in a crash on Wednesday morning. Swanson, 35, was a 13-year veteran and a Medal of Valor awardee.
Manhattan Beach Mayor Richard Montgomery said in a statement: “In a time when the community is grieving the loss of one of our own heroes, our No. 1 priority remains steadfast in keeping the entire city of Manhattan Beach safe.”
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