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Westminster Jewelry Store Owner Fires Shots At Watch Thief

WESTMINSTER (CBSLA.com) — A jewelry store owner who thwarted a robbery by shooting a suspect in the head last July fired shots at a thief who stole an expensive watch Friday.

The owner of Tick Tock Watches in the Asian Garden Mall confronted the suspect as he fled after posing as a customer and asking to see a watch reportedly valued at $9,000.

"A lone suspect entered the store and asked to see a high-end watch, and while looking at the watch decided to leave with it," said Sgt. Cameron Knauerhaze of the Westminster police.

The suspect, described as a white male between the ages of 30 to 35, with brown hair and wearing a red t-shirt and jeans, reportedly fled to a black vehicle.

The store owner reportedly chased the suspect to his car and fired shots, though police did not know the precise number. It was unclear if the suspect fired back, according to police.

Police reportedly do not believe the suspect was shot.

In July 2012, the same owner confronted two men attempting a takeover robbery of the store. One suspect was shot in the head and a second was chased down by security guards.

RELATED: Suspect Shot Following Westminster Jewelry Store Heist

(©2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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