Caught On Tape: Sign Waver Thwarts Robbery At Hesperia Jewelry Store

HESPERIA (CBS) — A jewelry store robbery was thwarted by an unarmed sign waver who warned the owners not to buzz the suspects in.

Hesperia police took eight people into custody on Thursday following the attempted robbery at Main Express Jewelry in the 17100 block of Main Street.

"No one got hurt and everybody was safe and they caught the bad guys," Denise Reyes, the sign waver, told CBS2's Greg Mills.

After Reyes noticed one of the alleged accomplices in a bush tucking a gun into his waistband and putting a mask over his face, she charged for the door waving her arms and yelling, "Don't let them in!"

Reyes managed to chase away two men police say are in a gang. The incident was captured by security cameras.

"I was so scared because the moment I saw her run, I was like, 'Oh my God. Please come back,'" said Veronica Espinosa, who runs the store with her parents.

Back in March, the store was targeted by armed robbers whom Espinosa says made off with all of their inventory. The family had to close two of their three stores.

Five gang members from Los Angeles and three people from Hesperia were taken into custody, according to authorities.