Multimedia journalist Lauren Pozen spoke with the Luxury Jewels of Beverly Hills owner and to a Beverly Hills Police Department lieutenant about the recent smash-and-grab robbery. Click the arrow above to watch the video.
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Robbers smashed the front window of a Beverly Hills jewelry store in broad daylight and fled with millions of dollars worth of merchandise.
Passersby recorded video of Tuesday's assault on the store, the latest in a long string of brazen smash-and-grab thefts and robberies of people wearing expensive watches or jewelry in the Los Angeles region.
The robbers, wearing hoodies and masks, used sledgehammers to break the window of Luxury Jewels of Beverly Hills.
Company President Peter Sedghi estimated he lost $3 million to $5 million worth of merchandise.
The robbers arrived in a stolen car and abandoned it, leaving in another vehicle. A Beverly Hills police statement said extra security patrols and other measures were immediately taken.
"Chief (Mark) Stainbrook understands the community frustration regarding the crime that happened today," the statement said.
Chief Stainbrook's message regarding today's burglary on South Beverly Dr. https://t.co/lYGBhzkz6v
— Beverly Hills Police (@BeverlyHillsPD) March 23, 2022
His Los Angeles counterpart, Chief Michel Moore, said Tuesday that robberies in Los Angeles are up 18% year-to-date compared to 2021.
"Over the last year there has been a marked increase of armed robberies involving victims wearing expensive jewelry while in public. If it is visible, it can be a target," an LAPD statement said.