9 Charged With $6 Million Smash-And-Grab Jewelry Store Robberies
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Nine people have been charged with stealing $6 million worth of Rolexes and other expensive watches and jewelry in Southern California smash-and-grab robberies.
Authorities say four of the nine were arrested Thursday. Three others already were in custody and two are being sought.
A federal indictment for conspiracy was issued on June 8 in Santa Ana. It claims the men staged 10 smash-and-grabs between last August and April of this year, targeting stores in Los Angeles and Orange counties that sold high-end jewelry.
Prosecutors say the ringleaders recruited financially desperate young men, and provided guns, tools disguises and stolen cars for the holdups.
A rifle was fired during one holdup.
Each man could face decades in prison if convicted.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.