Covina Jewelry Store Owner Recounts Horrifying Armed Robbery

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A jewelry store owner and an employee experienced a horrifying ordeal after they buzzed in two people who turned out to be armed gunmen.

The incident happened around noon Friday at Legacy Jewelers and Antiques in downtown Covina. The two robbers walked in, pulled out guns and then took store owner Nabil Chaoui and his assistant to a backroom.

"She asked me to lay down and she tied my hands back," he recounts.

They pulled a number of pieces from a variety of cases and, according to Chaoui, then headed for the safe. The robbers made off with over a million dollars worth of jewelry.

Police believe the suspects may have cased the store for days.

"We're talking about gems. We're talking about very expensive jewelry," Chaoui said.

Both of the robbers are about 6 feet tall and weigh about 200 pounds. One of them was disguised as a woman and wore a braided black-and-gray wig and a floral dress.

The two victims weren't seriously hurt, but Chaoui said he was worried for his assistant who has children.

"First of all, she's my responsibility… being here and working for me. She's my responsibility," he said.