A group of smash-and-grab robbers ransacked a jewelry store at a Sherman Oaks mall before fleeing the scene in a getaway car Wednesday.
Los Angeles police officers responded to reports of a robbery at Westfield Fashion Square mall around 4:30 p.m.
Video from a witness showed four masked suspects entering Kristof’s Jewelers while carrying large hammers. They began smashing the glass display cases as the loud sounds sent nearby shoppers running to safety.
The suspects quickly ran from the store and fled in two getaway cars that were reportedly stolen — a Chevy Corvette and a Chevy Camaro.
The two suspect vehicles were later found abandoned in a Van Nuys neighborhood. Surveillance video from a home showed the same group of hooded suspects casually walking away from the ditched vehicles.
The owners said no merchandise appeared to have been stolen, but this was not the first time they had been targeted. Because of previous incidents, they installed unbreakable glass on all their displays, which deterred the suspects from accessing the merchandise.
Hermine Nowchadian, who owns a children’s clothing store near the jewelry shop, recalled hearing the loud commotion and initially thought it was gunfire. She immediately ran to lock her doors.
“It was very scary,” she said. “It sounded like gunshots.”
The jewelry store was closed to visitors as police investigated the scene and workers cleaned the shattered glass and debris. No suspect descriptions were provided as the incident remains under investigation.
Anyone with information can call the LAPD Van Nuys Division at 818-374-9500.
The post Smash-and-grab robbers ransack jewelry store at Sherman Oaks mall appeared first on KTLA.
