Officials in Anaheim said they are seeing an upward trend in robbery, reflecting the frequency of similar crimes occurring in Los Angeles County.
Over the past month, Mob or Big Groups have been seen attempting to rob four jewelry stores, police said. Five burglars are currently in custody after raiding the same jewelry store in Anaheim a week ago, according to officials.
“We’ve had bank robberies, jewellery stores robberies, but this isn’t the frequency. It seems like a new trend,” said Matt Sutter with the Anaheim Police Department. “They’ve now stepped up or left their high-end clothes, maybe bags, wallets, and diamonds and gold.”
Don Roberto, located on La Palma Avenue in Anaheim, was robbed twice in a week in the latest incident on Tuesday as four men wore hoodies. Police said the man escaped on the Olive Green Dodge Charger on the 91 Expressway.
Don Robert of Brookhurst Street was nearly robbed by 20 thieves from 15 on Monday, fired one warning gunshot until the owner managed to scare the thief. The group put on a hoodie and face covering and tried to break the door with a sledgehammer before they could escape.
Police said they did not recommend firing warning shots as a protective measure, but urged jewelry store owners to increase security.
“We call it augmenting the target. It makes it difficult for these suspects to enter your property and steal your items,” Sgt. Sutter said. “If it’s a simple target, I’ll continue to attack these targets.”
Authorities say they are working with other cities to determine if the robbers are connected after other areas report the same suspicious vehicle being used in crime across LA County.
Seven people were arrested on July 1 in Glendale in connection with a robbery at a family-run jewelry store that took place in May. The burglar drilled holes in the roof of his business and stole goods worth millions of dollars, police said.
A thief wearing a face covering also broke into El Monte’s jewelry store from the ceiling in June, stealing more than $1 million in product.
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