Investigation underway in theft
Suspects accused of stealing from jewelry store in Valencia mall
Detectives are searching for jewelry thieves Monday after the smashed the display glass of a jewelry store at the mail, knocking a store staffer to the ground in their escape.
Shortly after 5:10 p.m. Sunday, two men, one brandishing a hammer, entered the Fast Fix Jewelry Water Repairs store in the Westfield Valencia Town Center mall, Shirley Miller, spokeswoman for the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station told The Signal.
“They entered the store and allegedly used a hammer to break the glass and stole some expensive pieces of jewelry,” she said. “A store clerk confronted them and, either she was knocked over, or she fell.”
The clerk, a woman, apparently threw a chair at the suspects before
she ended up on the ground.
Store owners posted an account of the jewelry heist on social media, reporting: “Today two African American young men entered our store wearing hooded sweatshirts at approximately 5:15pm with a large hammer and smashed our Rolex showcase stealing thousand of dollars worth of Pre-Owned Rolex Watches.
“In the process the thieves assaulted one of our associates resulting in her being pushed down to the ground.
“We are so relieved she, and none of our other staff members were seriously injured in the process. Security concerns have been brought to Westfield and their security teams attention in the past, with no avail.”
A store staffer, reached at the store Monday morning, said the woman who confronted the suspects is expected at the store later today.
When asked if the store was open for business today, the staffer said: “Yes, thank God.”
Deputies responded to reports of the theft.
The suspects, described as two young African American men, “used a hammer to smash the case, fought with the store clerk and got out,” according to Lieutenant Chuck Becerra of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.
The two suspects were still at large, Miller said at 11 a.m. Monday.
They were allegedly seen leaving the mall in a black Dodge Charger.
The incident left store owners questioning crime in the SCV, according to their post on social media.
“These events have proven that the Santa Clarita Valley is no longer the quiet community it once was.
“The crime that is so deep rooted in Los Angeles has made its way to our quite suburbs. We would like to thank the Santa Clarita 911 dispatch team for their quick response and emotional support, as well as the Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Department, and the California Highway Patrol.
“We urge all fellow community members to ban together in contacting the Santa Clarita City Council, and Westfield Valencia Town Centers management to push full force that stronger security measures be taken to ensure the safety of all of the families, patrons and employees of our local shopping centers and malls.
“Together as a community we can bring forward the change that will ensure that our city remains safe, and family oriented. These crimes and those who commit them must stop. Together as a community we must demand that those elected, fulfill their duties. These crimes need to end now.”