Brazen Madison Avenue Smash-And-Grab Robbery Caught On Video
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police released surveillance video Tuesday of two armed robbery suspects who they say stole more than $300,000 worth of watches from a high-end jewelry store in a brazen smash-and-grab robbery.
It happened around 10:40 a.m. Monday at the Jaeger-LeCoultre store on Madison Avenue between 62nd and 63rd streets.
Their faces covered, police say one of the men pulled out a gun and ordered three employees to lay face down on the floor while the other smashes display cases with a claw hammer and grabs five watches.
The men then fled southbound on Madison Avenue before heading east on 62nd Street. No one was hurt.
Jaeger-LeCoultre sits with other luxury clothing and jewelry stores on Madison Avenue, which is often filled with shoppers looking to spend big, CBS2's Magdalena Doris reported.
To those who pass by, it's obvious there would be cameras inside the store.
"That's terrible," one woman said.
"Never underestimate the unintelligence of people," another man said.
Meanwhile, neighboring shops are lending a hand in the investigation.
"We had surveillance and we allowed the cop to come inside the office and take a look at it," said Mirza Mohamed of Pick a Bagel. "They can run, they can hide, but we will find them and we will work with the NYPD together."
The store is one of many luxury clothing and jewelry stores between 62nd and 63rd Streets on Madison Avenue. They are now carefully screening people at the door.
The gunpoint hold up is uncommon for the area, but not unheard of.
"Last time I remember something like this it was 25, in my office across the street. They came at gunpoint and they robbed something. Since then I haven't heard anything like this," Jean Piero said.
Police are still looking for the men who disguised themselves with sunglasses, hats, and scarves.
The first suspect is described by police as a white man, about 6'4" tall and 240 pounds. He was seen wearing a black winter coat, black dress pants, baseball cap and sunglasses and had a black handgun.
The second suspect is described as a white man, about 6'2" tall and 190 pounds. He was seen wearing a gray winter coat, multi-colored ski cap, black pants, black Nike boots and black sunglasses and had the claw hammer.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782), visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
