TOLUCA LAKE : Thieves Kidnap Jewelers at Home, Take Them to Store
A couple were kidnaped at gunpoint from their Toluca Lake home and forced to drive a pair of ski-masked robbers to the family jewelry store from which the thieves stole more than $1 million in jewelry and cash, Los Angeles police said Tuesday.
Van Ohanian, 67, and his wife, Helen, 62, were surprised about 7:30 p.m. Monday by robbers who followed them into their garage, said Lt. Ron LaRue.
The robbers ransacked the house while holding the Ohanians at gunpoint. They then ordered the couple into their 1989 Mercedes and directed them to drive to the family jewelry store, Van Ohanian Jeweler on Riverside Drive, LaRue said.
After cleaning out the store’s safe and jewelry display cases, the thieves hustled the couple back into the car. The four drove one block before the gunmen got out of the car and ran away, LaRue said.
The Ohanians were not hurt.
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