Armed Robbers Grab Nearly $300,000 In Jewelry From Carriers In Santa Monica

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA.com) — Two armed men robbed a pair of professional jewelry carriers in Santa Monica Tuesday, authorities reported.

Santa Monica police said the victims had just left a jewelry store on Montana Ave. and were headed to a private showing at a Santa Monica home, Santa Monica Police Sgt. Richard Lewis said.

At 3 p.m., the carriers parked their Ford SUV on the 500 block of 17th Street and began walking towards the home when the robbers confronted them.

The suspects wore bandanas over their faces and one of them was brandishing a gun.

The robbers demanded the carriers hand over a backpack filled with $300,000 worth of diamonds and gold jewelry. The suspects then got into a vehicle and drove off.

The victims, who had just arrived from Hong Kong on Sunday for business, called police but had a difficult time explaining the situation because they spoke little English. Police say that language barrier caused a delay in response time.

The suspects were said to be in their 20s or 30s and drove off in a dark-colored compact vehicle.

No one was injured in the robbery.