Hollywood Heist Nets Crook $500K In Jewelry

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HOLLYWOOD (CBSMiami) -- Police are looking for an armed man who robbed a Hollywood jewelry store in broad daylight on Sunday.

The masked robber stole half a million dollars worth in jewelry from O.F. Jewelers, in a shopping center on the 3300 block of Sheridan Street.

A yogurt shop right next to the jewelry store had a steady stream of customers all afternoon, including a bunch of children sitting outside for a Bar Mitzvah party just hours after the crime, with crime scene tape still up.

Hollywood Police said it was about 9:15 a.m. Sunday when employees buzzed a man into the store. The masked man forced two employees into the bathroom at gunpoint. The robber took $500,000 worth of jewelry.

A father, who was with his kids at the party was shocked, telling CBS4 they go there all the time.

"$500,000 worth of jewelry? Wow. Serious," said Eric Assouline. "Emerald Hills is a nice neighborhood and to hear that the store right next to YorgurtLand, which we come to very often with our family, got robbed, it's a little upsetting."

No one was hurt but police said the robber pistol-whipped one of the employees.

Police urge anyone with information to call Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS.