Millions of dollars in high-end jewels and watches were stolen in broad daylight on Tuesday in a brazen smash-and-grab burglary in which the suspects used sledgehammers. Beverly Hills business owners and residents are on high alert.
At about 1:45 p.m., at least five masked suspects wearing black and gray hoodies burst through the thick, tempered glass window of Luxury Jewels of Beverly Hills, which is located on the 200 block of South Beverly Drive.
Several spectators recorded the theft on tape. A vehicle passing by the jewelry store captured the thieves collecting stuff from the damaged storefront window in one video.
The jewelry store’s owner, Peter Sedghi, said he was in his office when he heard what he thought were gunshots.
According to Sedghi, the suspects had to beat the hardened glass with the sledgehammers eight or ten times before ultimately breaking it.
According to Sedghi, the robbers stole things valued $3 to $5 million.
The suspects then fled on foot through the alley behind the store before fleeing in a car.
The suspects came in front of the diamond store in an SUV reported stolen out of the Long Beach, Calif. region, according to Lt. Giovanni Trejo of the Beverly Hills Police Department.
The suspects fled in a different car, but investigators are still trying to figure out what make and model it was. Trejo speculated that there could be other suspects in the getaway car.
Due to the fact that the crime took place in a busy area and during the day, authorities are requesting witnesses to come forward with any recordings or information related to the event.
