A group of 15 people robbed a jewelry store in a Merced, CA, shopping mall, police said.
They took merchandise from Prestigio Jewelers, YourCentralValley.com reports. The crime happened at about 1 p.m. on Feb. 8. (Scroll down to see video of the incident.)
About 500 items worth a total of $180,000 were taken, police said. About $21,000 in merchandise was recovered the same day.
The Jewelers’ Security Alliance writes that the suspects “used hammers to smash showcases” during the robbery.
“The suspects fled before police arrived and departed in multiple vehicles,” according to JSA. “This continues a disturbing pattern of smash and grab robberies in California.”
Police are still searching for the suspects.
“It’s disheartening to see how a group of people can commit crimes like that just so brazen out in the open at the mall and it was pretty casual,” said Merced Police Lieutenant Joseph Perez.