Watches worth about $250,000 were stolen last week at a Newport Beach jeweler, in a type of theft that state officials are hoping to better combat with new law enforcement funding.
Retail theft is a major problem in California and the rest of the nation, merchants and law enforcement officials said. The state is trying something new.Steve Oberon, a spokesperson for the Newport Beach Police Department, said no arrests have been made in the case, but the investigation is continuing.
Security camera footage from the incident showed three men in black masks rushing into the store when a fourth man, dressed in plain clothes without a mask, held open the store’s locked door. Nguyen said he initially thought that man was a customer, but it turned out he was part of the group and aided in the robbery.
“We’re in a nice, busy shopping center,” Nguyen said. “We were just kind of surprised it happened because there are always people walking by too.” Alberto Frosio, the store’s owner for 40 years, said his shop has never before been robbed, but he has been hearing about such crimes happening “more and more.”Security footage from the Sept. 8 smash-and-grab robbery at Jewelers On Time in Newport Beach.A recent wave of grab-and-dash robberies or smash-and-grab burglaries has drawn increased concern from officials and residents in both