According to NBC Los Angeles, thieves wielding sledgehammers took up to $5 million in jewelry from a Beverly Hills, California, jewelry store on Tuesday.
Beverly Hills police claimed five burglars arrived in a stolen vehicle and broke the windows of the luxury business before taking handfuls of jewels. Due to their masked appearance and stolen vehicle, the Beverly Hills robbery and thieves were difficult to identify, according to police.
#BREAKING #BeverlyHills: Owner of Luxury Jewels of Beverly Hills tells me the smash and grabbers got away with 3 to 5 million in stolen watches and necklaces pic.twitter.com/3W4zsaVXjX
— Robert Kovacik (@RobertNBCLA) March 22, 2022
According to a video posted by NBC Los Angeles, the heist was caught on tape by a passerby across the street who filmed the criminals in hoodies taking stuff. Before fleeing the incident, a man can be seen kicking and shoving the robbers outside the business.
“Get him!” yelled one onlooker. Several automobiles passed by the crime scene, while others slowed to watch the robbery occur.
In response to the heist, Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) Chief Mark Stainbrook announced in an advisory notice on Tuesday that “a camera trailer, more security patrols, and extra special watch from officers” will be added to South Beverly Drive, where the incident occurred.
According to the recommendation, Stainbrook acknowledged the community’s unhappiness with crime and urged local prosecutors to assist the city and police department.
According to the Los Angeles Times, rising crime rates in Los Angeles have bled into upscale regions, including Beverly Hills, which has seen a 23 percent increase in violent crime in the last two years.