Gunmen Rob Jewelry Store in Camarillo, Beat Owner

Four gunmen burst into a Camarillo jewelry store Thursday and pistol-whipped one of the owners before stealing diamond rings, gold watches and other merchandise valued at more than $100,000.

The takeover-style robbery was reported about 2 p.m. at Camarillo Jewelers in the 300 block of Arneill Road in the sprawling Ponderosa Center, located just off the Ventura Freeway.

“After they came in, they used obscene language and made death threats,” said Ventura County Sheriff’s Sgt. Harold Hanley.

Nazar Arakelian, who has owned the business with his wife for more than 20 years, was forced by two of the robbers into the store’s rear, where he was struck at least twice across the face with a gun.

Up front in the showroom, Arakelian’s wife Alice was forced to lie on the floor and told not to scream as the robbers scooped jewelry from several unlocked display cases into a bag.

After the gunmen fled, possibly in a red compact car, Alice Arakelian ran to a neighboring business and asked employees to call 911, Hanley said.

A few months ago, an independent jewelry salesman who was visiting Camarillo Jewelers was robbed in the store’s parking lot by a group of men. Hanley said detectives at the scene of Thursday’s holdup were investigating possible ties between the four gunmen who robbed the jewelry store and other area holdups.

Nazar Arakelian, 63, was treated for facial injuries at Pleasant Valley Hospital and released, officials said. His wife, 57, was given oxygen at the scene after suffering shortness of breath.

Authorities did not have a complete description of the robbers.