According to a statement from the Manhattan Beach Police Department, multiple suspects entered the jewelry store, used hammers to break display cases, and fled the store with miscellaneous merchandise. The suspects entered awaiting vehicles and fled the scene southbound in an alley. At least three suspects were armed with what appeared to be handguns. No shots were fired.   

A widely circulated video on social media shows suspects grabbing at jewelry in a display window. Then 11 suspects, mostly dressed in dark colors and all with their heads and faces covered, head down Bayview Drive into three waiting cars. The cars - which appear to be a a black Volkswagen sedan, a gold-colored Infiniti sedan with a dent in the rear, and a gray or black Toyota Camry - then sped off with the suspects.

“This was not just a crime against a person or a business. This was a crime against our entire community,” said Mayor Steve Napolitano in a statement. “An armed robbery in broad daylight in our downtown could have resulted in serious injury and death. To those who did it, please know MBPD is devoting every resource to catch, prosecute, and jail you. We're going to add additional patrols in our downtown and throughout our commercial and residential areas. I want to assure the community that public safety is always your City Council’s number one priority and the MBPD has our full support."

The incident took place in the 200 block of Manhattan Beach Blvd. That block was shut down for part of the evening due to police activity.

MBPD detectives ask community members who witnessed this incident, who personally took video or photographs, or anyone who has any information pertinent to this incident, to contact Detective Mikelson at (310) 802-5121, or the MBPD Tip Line at (310) 802-5171 if you wish to remain anonymous.