Alleged smash-and-grab thieves bit off far more than they could chew last Friday when they attacked a jewelry store in Manhattan Beach, California. The lunchtime raid ended quickly when a store clerk produced a weapon and opened fire, sending the alleged thieves scrambling.
Employees and customers of Prestige Jewelers were shocked when five masked suspects burst into the store with empty bags and began quickly breaking glass cases with hammers.
The location was hit in a similar fashion in 2014, when robbers made off with some $250,000 in diamonds and Rolex watches. While they were able to get away with some merchandise in this most recent heist, the exact value has not been determined.
According to a statement from the Manhattan Beach Police Department, “an employee of the store responded by using a firearm to shoot toward the suspects.”
They fled to vehicles waiting outside. It is not certain if any of the five suspects were injured by the gunfire as they scrambled to get away.
The ensuing investigation by Manhattan Beach and Gardena police led to the arrest of one of the suspects seen in the now-viral video. Authorities are also distributing images from the scene in hopes that the public will be able to identify more of the suspects.
California in particular has seen a spate of these dramatic heists in broad daylight as emboldened criminals attack businesses and shoppers. It is very commendable that the store clerk had a firearm available and was able to defend the business and its patrons from what could have been a far worse outcome.
Despite the best efforts of the state’s political leadership, there are still law-abiding Californians ready to defend life and property from violent criminals who are wholly unaffected by gun control. In this instance, a robbery was cut short, and lives may have been saved.
