Los Angeles: On February 28, 2002, at approximately 3:00 p.m., three male suspects entered a jewelry store located on the 800 block of North Broadway in Los Angeles.

After forcing the store employees to the floor and threatening them with handguns, the masked robbers began to smash and ransack the jewelry store cases. As the suspects were distracted by the breaking glass displays, a female victim escaped and vainly attempted to lock the suspects inside the shop by locking the front door. Frightened by the robber's threats, the woman along with the other victims, then ran from the location. The suspects, who were wearing hats and ski masks, grabbed approximately $100,000 worth of assorted jewelry and fled out of the shop in broad daylight. None of the victims were seriously injured.

What the robbers did not realize was that their violent crime spree was videotaped on the store’s security system despite their attempts to disable the camera.

The Los Angeles Police Department is providing a VHS copy of the security tape to the media for the purpose of identifying the robbers of the Chinatown jewelry store. To obtain a copy of the tape, contact the Los Angeles Police Department’s Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.

Anyone with further information regarding the Robbery is requested to call the Los Angeles Police Department’s Detective Support Division, Asian Crimes Investigation Section, at 213-473-7333. On weekends and during off-hours, contact the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-529-3855, or 1-877-LAWFULL.

This press release was prepared by Officer Jack Richter, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.