Two jewelry store owners in southeast Los Angeles County are continuing to pick up the pieces from simultaneous smash-and-grab burglaries earlier this week.
On Friday, the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department released the latest information regarding the July 1 burglaries in Artesia, as well as estimates about the total damages incurred when dozens of masked thieves broke into the two businesses with hammers and crowbars.
Sheriff’s Department officials estimated the losses to be over $1 million.
The businesses targeted have been identified as Watch Palace and Amber Jewelers, located in the same shopping center on the 18500 block of Pioneer Boulevard.
Witnesses told KTLA earlier this week that between 20 and 30 masked people entered the two businesses at the same time, smashing glass doors, windows and display cases and stealing as many items as they could grab in under a minute.
Video showed the chaos unfolding inside of one of the stores, with several people swinging hammers indiscriminately and causing massive damage to the small business.
“It was very traumatizing for us and I don’t know how we are going to handle it,” said store owner Freeha in an interview with KTLA.
LASD says the investigation remains ongoing, and said its detectives are “working diligently to identify and apprehend the suspects.”
Anyone with information related to these robberies is urged to contact the LASD Organized Retail Crime Task Force at 562-946-7270. Anonymous tips can be provided online or by calling 800-222-8477.
