Gunmen Raid Shop, Tip Doorman : $250,000 in Jewels Stolen at Beverly Wilshire Hotel

A four-man team of bandits, two carrying Uzi submachine guns, robbed a jewelry shop in the luxurious Beverly Wilshire Hotel today of an estimated $250,000 in jewels, firing one warning shot in the lobby and a second at a former policeman who ran after them as they made their getaway.

No hotel or store patrons were hurt, but one of the robbers apparently cut himself badly when he smashed a display case to grab the loot.

Beverly Hills Police Detective John Crawford said three robbers entered the hotel through the Wilshire Boulevard entrance, leaving a partner outside in a white Cadillac sedan.

One of the bandits tipped the doorman $5, telling him, “We’ll only be here a couple of minutes.”

The three went directly to Schwartz Jewellers just off the lobby hallway. One pulled a snub-nosed Uzi-type gun from a gem bag and leveled it at manager John A. Jackels. A second stationed himself just outside the shop. He fired a single shot into a mirrored wall across from the shop, then yelled for everyone to hit the floor. About six people were in the immediate area and instantly obeyed the order.

Carried Crowbar

The third man carried a crowbar and smashed two display cases, scooping up diamond rings, necklaces, earrings and other valuable pieces of jewelry.

The robbers were in the store about two minutes, dumping the loot into the gem bag. They then dashed outside and jumped into the Cadillac, which had been stolen earlier in the day, police said.

A man identified as Jeff Myers, a former policeman, ran outside after the bandits and scribbled down the license number. As he did so, one of the gunmen fired through a back window. Myers was not injured.