Madera jewelry store owner opens fire on group of masked robbers
Surveillance video captured tense moments in the North Valley as a group of masked robbers broke into a Madera jewelry store located on North Country Club.
Within seconds, the store owner took matters into his own hands and opened fire on the crooks sending them running out the door.
As unsuspecting customers left Olivia's Fine Jewelry store in Madera around seven Thursday evening, surveillance video captured a group of about five masked people charge in.
The thieves quickly filed into the store, darting straight for the glass cases, sending the employee at the counter to seek safety.
One suspect stayed at the door as a lookout.
In a matter of seconds, the owner came out of the back of the store with his own gun, firing 3 to 5 shots.
The crooks took off running as he chased them out the door.
"It's shocking to the conscience. It's scary to the family because it is a mom-and-pop store with family being your own employees, it's your own business and your livelihood," says Sergeant Blake Short, Madera Police Department.
Even though the shots were fired, authorities say no one was hit.
The thieves were able to make off with an estimated $170,000 in high-value jewelry.
"I believe the store owner did what he felt was necessary at the time. We don't always recommend that in this field. Fortunately, no one was harmed in this situation," says Sergeant Short.
Madera Police call the robbery sophisticated, adding that the young adult suspects had a clear plan.
"Preliminary investigation shows they were in the area for a little while, we would call that pacing. This was definitely meticulous. It was thought out. It did not appear to be a first time for these individuals," says Sergeant Short.
Bullet holes through display cases, caution tape outside.
The commotion sent shockwaves through the shopping center.
"I got scared; it was very scary. We heard just a loud noise. I told the manager I think that's a gunshot," says Veronica Casillas, a nearby store employee.
Authorities were able to recover the getaway car, described as a dark grey Audi. They say the suspects ditched it just outside the Madera city limits.
The investigation remains ongoing and no additional descriptions of the suspects have been released.
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