Just be glad you're not this kid: A 17-year-old was arrested in connection with a smash-and-grab jewelry store robbery that happened downtown on July 12. And you know who cops say fingered him? His own parents.

The teen wasn't identified because he's underage.

But cops say security video of the robbery depict him grabbing jewels at the store at 720 S. Broadway.

The burglary was part of a string of at least six smash-and-grab operations that targeted downtown-area jewelry stores in recent months, cops say. Though they believe the suspects are different, detectives think all of the perps are from South L.A. gangs.


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LAPD Lt. Paul Vernon:

We've had six similar robberies along Broadway, downtown, since June 21, 2011 … We want to put an end to this spree of smash-and-grabs.

Cops say the teen was seen wielding a hammer during the July 12 incident. After wits wrote down the plate of a getaway BMW it was tracked to his residents. Detectives say they found hammers in the car.

An LAPD statement reveals …

The subject's parents identified him in the video as the suspect with the hammer.

Investigators say smash-and-grabs are on the rise throughout Southern California. Vernon:

[This smash-and-grab happened in Koreatown in May].

With the price of gold now at $1,600 an ounce, gang members have seen the benefit in taking the risk. We've been in contact with a half dozen other agencies from Riverside to Ventura counties that have experienced similar robberies by the same type of suspects: groups of 4 to 5 Black gang members, between 17 and 30 years old.

Cops have made nine arrests connected to three of the L.A. city robberies since late June, they say. Robberies have also been foiled after suspects were seen casing stores in the downtown jewelry district, police claim.

Anyone with information about the outstanding smash-and-grab suspects was asked to call detectives: 213-972-1245.

[@dennisjromero/djromero@laweekly.com]

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