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Filed Under:Cartier, Eileen Lehpamer, New York City
Police are investigating a robbery at the Cartier on Fifth Avenue (Credit: Eileen Lehpamer/1010 WINS)

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Police are investigating after they say five men stole watches from a New York City Cartier retailer Thursday afternoon.

As 1010 WINS’ Eileen Lehpamer reported, the security guards and security cameras did little to stop the masked men from walking into the Fifth Avenue store and using hammers to smash the glass display cases in the back watch salon.

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The suspects got away with at least 16 watches, which are valued at more than $700,000.

Despite the brazen robbery the store remained open.

As the crime scene unit dusted for finger prints in the back, employees told customers who asked that the back room was under renovations, Lehpamer reported.

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After the store closed at 6 p.m., Lehpamer said employees could be seen through the windows drinking wine, champagne and high-end scotch.

No one from the store would comment on the incident.

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