Mall Guard Heals From 1st Taste of Police Work : Crime: The Sherman Oaks Fashion Square officer was hurt chasing jewel thiefs last week. But law enforcement remains his lifelong career goal.

Robert Rayner, a temporary security guard at the Sherman Oaks Fashion Square mall, was taking his dinner break, moving his motorcycle when he heard over his radio that thieves had just broken into a mall jewelry store.

He stopped, turned and saw the suspects jump into a car and speed off.

Without thinking, without putting on a helmet or taking off his backpack stuffed with books, he jumped on his bike in pursuit.

But he lost them in the parking lot. His next recollection is being slammed from behind by the suspect’s speeding car, thrown over the vehicle and crashing onto the pavement.

Rayner later had 40 stitches to the right side of his head and ear. He also lost a fingernail on his right hand and suffered scrapes and bruises to his arms, hands and legs.

Rayner, 21, who said he has wanted to be a cop ever since he was a child, knows law enforcement can be dangerous. But he wasn’t expecting to risk his life this soon.

“I just wanted to get their license number,” said Rayner, a 1988 graduate of Crespi High School. “But I guess I did go beyond the duties of my job.”

The four thieves, who escaped with about $150,000 in merchandise last Wednesday night, were armed with sledgehammers and a gun. Police officials said Tuesday that they do not have any leads in the robbery.

Rayner, who will not be working for a while, is recuperating at his parents’ Van Nuys home before starting his senior year as an administration of justice major at Cal Lutheran in Thousand Oaks.

“Every joint still hurts when I walk,” said Rayner, who on Tuesday was still walking slowly. “But everybody tells me I’m lucky I’m alive.”

Rayner said he usually wears a helmet but that he had left it in his locker because he was planning only to move his motorcycle.

Apparently, Rayner’s fall was broken by the canvas backpack he was wearing.

Rayner said he thought his efforts would get him in trouble at work because mall guards--who do not carry guns--are not supposed to follow armed suspects.

Rayner didn’t get in trouble; instead he was praised by his supervisor, Seamus Keenas, head of mall security.

“He has a great enthusiasm for the job, as evidenced by his efforts to get the license number of the car,” said Keenas, who added that he believes that Rayner will someday make a good police officer.

Rayner is not the only one in his family with law enforcement in his blood.

His father, Gene Rayner, was a private investigator for about 10 years, his uncle is a retired police officer and his godfather is a Burbank police officer.

His two younger brothers, Michael, 20, and Zach, 18, have expressed an interest in the field. Michael also works as a security guard at the mall.

Despite the painful experience, Rayner’s enthusiasm for police work has not been dampened.

“This has made me want to do it even more because now I want to catch those guys who robbed the store,” he said.