Man, 2 Boys, Arrested in Robbery at Jewelry Store

Two men aided by two boys, 12 and 14, staged an armed-takeover style robbery at a jewelry store in a Sherman Oaks shopping center Friday, Los Angeles police reported.

One of the men and both boys were captured, but the other man escaped, police said.

The four entered Victoria Jewelers at Sherman Oaks Fashion Square about 1 p.m., Detective Dan Riehl said. A 28-year-old Los Angeles man, whose name was not released, pulled out a gun and ordered the store’s owner to open the jewelry cases.

The 12-year-old and 14-year-old, both of East Los Angeles, filled pillowcases with rings, necklaces and other jewelry, while another man stood watch near the store’s entrance, Riehl said. There were no customers in the store during the robbery.

The gunman and the two boys were subsequently captured by mall guards and Los Angeles police officers inside the shopping center, Riehl said.

Two shots were fired by a mall guard during the pursuit, but it was unknown whether either of the bullets hit the man who escaped.

Riehl said that it has become increasingly common in the last year for young boys to commit violent crimes, often aiding adult criminals.

“Recently, it has been on an upswing,” Riehl said. “The ages seem to be decreasing with the more violent takeover robbers in the general Los Angeles area.”

Most of the jewelry taken in the robbery was recovered, Riehl said.