Four high-end watches were stolen during a smash-and-grab robbery at a jewelry store inside the Willow Grove Park Mall in Abington Township, Pennsylvania.
Three men walked through the Bloomingdale's and into the mall area before entering the Precision Watches & Jewelry Store around 7:20 p.m. Monday, according to investigators. They then used mini sledgehammers to smash through the display cases, police said. While reaching into the case, at least one of the suspects cut himself, according to investigators.
The men then stole four high-end Rolex watches. Fearing for the safety of his employees, the store owner fired two shots into the ceiling, causing the suspects to flee, according to police. The owner was licensed to carry the weapon, according to investigators.
The suspects ran through the Bloomingdale's ground level and out to the parking lot where a Chrysler mini-van, driven by a fourth suspect, was circling the lot. The suspects then fled the scene.
Jazmin Rodriguez, an employee at Bloomingdale's, told NBC10 the sound of the gunshots sent everyone into a panic.
"It sounded like some sort of gunshot and my first instinct was to run," she said. "I was with a co-worker and me and her just ran with the crowd out the door."
Rodriguez told NBC10 a crowd of people started running and ducking for cover.
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"I'm still shaken up from it," she said. "It was very scary."
Aside from the suspect who cut himself on the glass, no one was injured during the ordeal.
Police later found the getaway van used by the suspects about a quarter mile away from the mall. The vehicle's ignition had been punched and police are trying to determine whether or not it was stolen.
On Tuesday police released surveillance photos of three of the suspects.
If you have any information on the robbery, please call Abington Police at 267-536-1100.
