The Region - News from Feb. 18, 1986

A thief who stole a ring worth $30,000 from a South Bay jewelry store wounded two bystanders as he made his getaway, police said. The thief entered the Ben Bridge Jewelry Store in the South Bay Galleria, pushed aside a store clerk, reached inside a jewelry case and took out a $30,000 ring, Redondo Beach Police Officer Clifford Dean said. “He definitely knew what he wanted,” the officer said. As the robber left, a store customer tried to stop him, but was wounded when the thief fired a shot, Dean added. The thief then ran to the parking lot and fired shots at two security guards who tried to get his license plate but the bullets missed them, instead hitting a woman bystander. The two wounded people were taken to UCLA-Harbor General Hospital where they were in good condition, Dean said.