Seattle jewelry store robbed in 90-second heist

A daytime smash and grab at a west Seattle jewelry store saw four masked thieves take about $2 million in diamonds, watches and gold in roughly 90 seconds.

Seattle jewelry store robbed in 90-second heist

Four masked suspects smashed the locked glass front of a west Seattle jewelry store with hammers, then ran through six display cases, taking approximately $2 million in diamonds, luxury watches and gold. One display held about $750,000 in Rolex watches and another had an emerald necklace valued at $125,000. The raid lasted about 90 seconds, with a suspect using bear spray and a stun gun to threaten staff, police said. No one was injured.

Video from surveillance captured the quick heist before the suspects fled in a getaway car. The store, a family business, planned to inventory losses and reopen after cleaning up the broken glass. Police are reviewing the footage and searching for suspects as investigators piece together the sequence of events.

This raid highlights how fast and brazen daytime thefts can be against high-value retailers. The speed of 90 seconds compresses the window for staff to react and for police to respond, pushing shops to rethink glass, alarms and staff training. A rise in such incidents could push up security costs and insurance premiums, and it may spur city and business groups to develop clearer guidelines for daylight retail safety. The human cost — shaken staff and interrupted livelihoods — often lasts longer than the financial hit.

Highlights

Authorities may push for clearer guidance on daytime security for high value retailers.