A group of thieves stormed into a Newport Beach jewelry store, emptying glass display cases and making off with an estimated $250,000 worth of luxury watches in mere seconds. The incident, which took place at Jewelers On Time earlier this month, September 8, was captured on the store's security cameras, revealing the intensity and precision of the criminals' actions, according to NBC Los Angeles.
The brazen crime began when a man entered the store asking to see an expensive Rolex watch. The store employee, Kenny Nguyen, requested an ID before realizing the man had "forgotten" it in his car. Upon Nguyen buzzing him out of the secure area, three masked individuals dressed in black burst into the store with what appears to be a plastic container. Nguyen describes their entrance, noting, "When I buzzed him out three guys ran in, and when they ran in I ran in the back to hit the silent alarm button and they were in and out in less than 20 seconds." The thieves managed to escape with nearly two dozen watches, totaling a staggering worth of approximately $250,000.
Another KTLA report provides further details on the surveillance footage, indicating that the man who was wearing a yellow shirt, appeared to be holding the security gate open. However, the exact involvement of this man remains unclear.
Jewelers On Time owner, Alberto Frosio, highlighted the ongoing problem of similar thefts in the area, stating, "We have three or four friends of ours, jewelers, who have actually been hit in this area."
