Three masked men robbed a Gilroy Premium Outlets jewelry store
at gunpoint Monday evening, stealing an estimated $500,000 worth of
merchandise.
Three masked men robbed a Gilroy Premium Outlets jewelry store at gunpoint Monday evening, stealing an estimated $500,000 worth of merchandise.
Police received reports at 8:55 p.m. that three unidentified Hispanic men had robbed Zales diamond outlet, 8155 Arroyo Circle, in northeast Gilroy.
The suspects, all armed with handguns, entered the store less than an hour before closing time and ordered employees to the ground before taking some jewelry, according to Sgt. Jim Gillio of the Gilroy Police Department. The men then fled in a light-colored sedan.
Two employees were in the back of the store and two were in the front at the time of the robbery, Gillio said. None of the employees were injured. The $500,000 value of the jewelry items is a “rough estimate,” Gillio said, adding that police are still gathering information.
The suspects all were wearing “distinctive masks,” Gillio said. However, he did not provide more details, saying that providing information like that could allow in the future for defense lawyers to argue that witnesses testifying against the men simply read about the masks in the newspaper. Gilroy police are working with other nearby law enforcement agencies as they attempt to capture the criminals, he said.
Two suspects are described as being between 5 feet, 6 inches and 5 feet, 8 inches – one with a thin build and the other with a medium build. Another is between 5 feet, 10 inches and 6 feet, 1 inch with a heavy build. A security camera at the store captured images of the suspects, but Gillio said the video is not helpful in further identifying the men.
A sign posted on the front door of the store Tuesday read, “Closed for Inventory,” and staffers referred all questions to the company’s Irving, Texas-based corporate office. The store did not return a phone call Wednesday to see if it would be open.
A company spokeswoman at Zales who would not give her name said the store is offering a $5,000 reward to anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest of the suspects. However, company representatives said they would not comment on the robbery.
“The local police have everything that we have,” she said.
Workers at surrounding businesses said they were unaware of the robbery at the time it occurred.
“It’s crazy,” said Adeline Ramirez, assistant manager at Maidenform, a lingerie store next door to Zales. “It’s sad. The bad thing about it is that only girls work in this store.”
Ramirez said she was helping customers at the time of the robbery, and she had no idea that there was a problem next door. She said she typically can hear noise on the other side of the wall that the businesses share.
Sabrina Krebs, who works at nearby Gold Toe, also said she did not see anyone suspicious in the area. She said she only learned about the incident after police stopped by Monday evening.
Representatives at Gilroy Premium Outlets, which oversees the security staff, referred all phone calls to their corporate headquarters, which did not return phone calls.
A couple of workers at the outlets said Tuesday that they were unaware of the robbery that had occurred the previous evening. Often, managers at the outlet mall notify stores after a crime has occurred there, they said.
“That’s pretty scary,” said Kathya Borges, assistant manager at Ultra Diamonds, after learning about Monday’s robbery.
She said her store had a couple of thefts in which criminals swiped items while employees were displaying them, but said she had not heard about other recent robberies.
Four Los Angeles gang members burglarized Zales in January 2004 after breaking through the back door. In that instance, police recovered the stolen goods – and eventually arrested the suspects – after chasing the getaway vehicle to the Los Banos area, where a spike strip was set up.
Shoppers on Tuesday were unaware of Monday’s robbery, and most said that it did not cause them any concern in terms of security.
Cupertino resident Mary Spagnol said she feels safe shopping in Gilroy.
“There’s always isolated events,” she said.
Gilroyan Sabrina Oliviera said the incident sounded scary, but she generally feels safe shopping at the outlets. Unlike indoor malls, shoppers at the outlets are outside within view when they get into a car, creating a more secure environment, she said.
Anyone with information on the incident is urged to call Detective Stanley Devlin at 846-0350. Those who wish to remain anonymous my call 846-0330 or We Tip at (800) 782-7463.
