California Smash-And-Grab: Thieves Steal $500K in Jewelry.
Smash-and-Grab Robbery in Los Angeles: Thieves Escape with $500,000 Worth of Jewelry
Another shocking incident of a smash-and-grab robbery took place in the vibrant city of Los Angeles on Tuesday. The owner of Jewels on Lake in Pasadena, Samuel Babikian, was left devastated when a group of robbers stormed into his store, pepper sprayed him, and made off with approximately $500,000 worth of precious merchandise.
The Pasadena police swiftly responded to the distress call around 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday. According to the authorities, four masked men carried out the audacious robbery before fleeing in a white vehicle, as reported by Pasadena Star News.
As of now, no arrests have been made, and the investigation is still ongoing.
The store owner, Babikian, shared his harrowing experience, stating that the pepper spray temporarily blinded him and caused breathing difficulties, preventing him from providing a detailed description of the attackers. Babikian, who has owned the jewelry store for over 40 years, expressed his emotional turmoil, uncertain about what the future holds, in an interview with Fox 11.
This incident is part of a concerning trend of organized retail thefts in the Los Angeles area. Just last month, a group of masked thieves stole $900,000 worth of merchandise from a jewelry store in Irvine, and a mob of up to 50 individuals attacked a Nordstrom store, making off with luxury goods valued at up to $300,000. These incidents have prompted the city to establish a dedicated task force to combat organized retail theft.
The recent efforts of the task force have already yielded results, with 11 individuals being arrested in connection to the smash-and-grab robberies, including those involved in the Nordstrom and Yves Saint Laurent store incidents. Detectives on the task force are currently investigating at least nine cases related to organized retail crimes.
While most types of violent crime in Los Angeles have seen a decrease, theft has risen by 15%, with over 20,000 thefts reported compared to the same period last year, according to LAPD data.
Los Angeles County, which encompasses Pasadena, has witnessed over 170 organized retail thefts, including the alarming smash-and-grab trend, since the fall of 2021, as reported by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office. This surge in retail theft is not limited to Los Angeles, as cities like San Francisco and Seattle have also experienced a significant increase in such crimes this year.
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