Geneva Jewelry store owner chases off smash-and-grab robbers with gunfire.
Two robbers got away with thousands of dollars in jewelry in a brazen smash-and-grab – but took less than expected after the SoCal store’s owner chased them off with gunfire.
Two robbers made off with thousands of dollars in jewelry in a daring smash-and-grab, even as the owner of the Riverside store chased them off with gunfire.
The brazen incident unfolded on Saturday morning at the Canyon Crest Towne Center and was captured on surveillance video. The two masked suspects are seen entering Geneva Jewelry and immediately smashing glass display cabinets with hammers. Shocked by the chaos, one customer attempts to flee through the front door but finds it locked, eventually scrambling to safety through the back exit.
Moments later, the store owner fires shots at the suspects, aiming to scare them away without directly hitting them. One shot struck the ground, while another shattered the store’s window, causing one of the startled suspects to fall to the ground as he fled.
Michelangelo Torchia, the owner’s son, recounted the moment, stating, “He shot once at the ground. Immediately as he shot at the ground, they ran. You’ll see in the surveillance video that one of the guys fell to the floor, scared, and grabbed his hammer because he dropped one of our bracelets he was stealing.”
Although shaken by the robbery, the owners, who have been in business since 1989, are grateful that no one was injured. Riverside police are actively pursuing leads in the case to identify the robbers. A spokesperson for the department stated that it does not appear the store owner acted criminally when firing at the robbers.
Officer Ryan Railsback of the Riverside Police emphasized the importance of assessing immediate danger when deciding whether to use firearms for self-defense. He acknowledged the growing frustration among business owners and law enforcement regarding the surge in smash-and-grab robberies, questioning what emboldens suspects to commit such crimes without fear of consequences.