A brazen Koreatown smash-and-grab robbery in which nearly $1 million worth of Rolex watches was taken was caught on tape. The LAPD has released video of the job in case anyone recognizes the criminals involved.

The robbery at Saint Cross jewelry store in Koreatown Plaza, a mall at South Western Avenue and James M. Wood boulevard, happened at 10:50 a.m. on Wednesday, May 18.

Two young men in hoodies burst in and …

… one grabbed as many watches as he could from a display case while the other trained a gun on two workers.

Later when a security guard was seen outside, the gunman headed to the door and pointed the weapon at him.

LAPD Det. Jesus Garcia tells the Weekly that “26 high-end Rolexes” worth about $800,000 were taken.

Because the two were good at hiding their faces, it's not clear if they might be connected to other, similar robberies, Garcia said.

They did, however, know what they were looking for, the investigator told us:


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It appears they went right for the Rolexes.

The job doesn't appear to be connected to another robbery at the same store about two years ago. That case involved one suspect “who was older,” Garcia said.

This duo might have gotten away in a gray Ford Escape SUV, the LAPD states.

The suspects were described as 5 feet 11 inches, 150-to-160 pounds, and in their late 20s to early 30s.

Anyone who has info on either man was asked to call detectives at 213-382-9460.

[@dennisjromero/djromero@laweekly.com]

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