2 sought in jewelry store robbery in Half Moon Bay
Detectives in San Mateo County released photos Tuesday of a thief and his accomplice who held up a Half Moon Bay jewelry store at gunpoint after one of them posed as a customer to case the business, officials said.
The robbery began around 10: 30 a. m. Monday when a man between 25 and 35 years old entered Goldworks at 542 Main St. carrying a black shopping bag, said Detective Sal Zuno, a San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office spokesman.
“He walked inside and was basically casing the business, speaking to the employees, trying to distract them while he was casing it,” Zuno said.
During his conversation with the workers, the man suddenly pulled out a handgun, went behind the counter and started cleaning out a display case of precious stones and putting them into his black shopping bag.
While he was stealing the jewels, another man — who appeared to be the lookout — walked inside the store and noticed an employee motion to press the store’s silent “panic alarm.”
“He immediately tells his partner, ‘ Hey, we have to go,’ ” Zuno said.
The two thieves ran out the door, took a right and headed south on Main Street. Deputies searched the area but could not find them. No employees were injured.
Detectives have yet to determine the value of the jewelry, but the store does carry customized stones, Zuno said.
Those with information on the robbery can call Detective Gaby Chaghouri at ( 650) 2592314 or e- mail gchaghouri@ smcgov. org. To remain anonymous, call the sheriff’s department’s tip line at ( 800) 547- 2700.