L.I. Jewelry Store Owner Bound, Gagged In Armed Robbery

SAYVILLE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – Three masked men pulled off a bold and frightening heist at a jewelry store on Long Island.

As CBS2's Jennifer McLogan reported, quaint and historic Sayville, Long Island, on Suffolk's south shore is known for its tranquility and welcoming character.

"The town is so beautiful, peaceful and everybody's so friendly here," resident Robert Passamenti said.

Because of this, observing detectives coming and going all day from a jewelry store on Main Street has everyone talking.

In broad daylight, it's reported that two suspects wearing hoodies went to the rear of Johnny's Jewelry, snipped the silent alarm wire and waited. Posing as a shopper, a third robber was then buzzed into the front door, pulled on a mask and produced a gun before opening the back door to his accomplices.

Police say the owner's feet and hands were tied and he was gagged.

"I am lucky to be alive...now I fear for my life and the safety of my family...I was trapped for two hours...I pushed the panic button, nothing happened," the victim told McLogan.

"He was bound and he was subsequently able to free himself enough to get out and two passersby were able to free him," Suffolk County Detective John O'Brien said.

O'Brien said they are now processing evidence and detectives are poring over hours of surveillance video.

It's reported several hundred thousand dollars in gold and silver jewels were snatched.

Merchants in the area are shaken.

"Three people went in there, tied the owner up and that frightens people," Jordan Salamon said.

Police are uncertain why the jeweler was targeted and describe the crime as well-planned and well-executed.

The victim said he escaped by taking off a shoe and slipping his foot through the plastic ties.