‘Very Sloppy' Thieves Follow Jewelry Store Crash-and-Grab With Video Game Store Heist

Newly installed security cameras captured the jewelry store heist after thieves rammed a pickup into the building in Long Beach

Thieves crashed a stolen pickup into a jewelry store before ramming into a nearby video game shop Friday morning in a smash-and-grab rampage caught on at least one store's security camera system.

A red pickup was seized after the heists and two people were later taken into custody when police searching for a dark-colored vehicle, which was likely the getaway car, witnessed three men burglarizing a Sprint Store at Westminster Center. Two men were apprehended and a third ran into a nearby neighborhood, Westminster police said.

Officers found the men in possession of about $25,000 worth of stolen items, likely merchandise taken during the thefts, police said.

The smash-and-grab crime spree began just after 2 a..m. when officers responded to a Long Beach jewelry store in the 4600 block of Los Coyotes Diagonal. About 15 to 20 Long Beach police officers arrived, some less than a minute after the getaway, the store's owner of 24 years said.

A witness in a nearby camper called police, she said.

New digital color cameras installed about a month ago captured the rampage "clear as day" inside the store, said owner Janis Krantz. The pickup crashed through a glass door, window and security gate before three men sneaked through the side of the gate as a female driver waited outside.

"One was smashing all the cases, the others had trash bags grabbing what they could," said Krantz. "They did more damage to showcases than they got merchandise.

"Things were strewn all over the place. They missed a lot. They were just grabbing what they could grab. Very sloppy."

Most of the store's highest-value items were locked away in a different area, Krantz said. They hastily grabbed items, including some made of cubic zirconia -- a low-cost colorless crystal similar in appearance to diamonds.

"I was really sick," Krantz said. "You work hard to get a business going. I love what I do. It's like a personal assault to have things smashed and destroyed."

Strips of carpet were torn from the floor where the pickup slid to a stop.

About 30 minutes later, police received another report of red pickup slamming into a Game Stop in the 400 block of West Anaheim Street in Long Beach. Merchandise also was stolen from the video game store.

The pickup was recovered about two blocks away from the Game Stop.

The two men taken into custody in Westminster are believed to be connected to the Long Beach crimes. Authorities are still searching for the third man and female driver.

Contact Us