Bandits Smash Cartier Display Case, Grab Watches Worth $700K

Police have nabbed two alleged bandits and are searching for three others after the group used hammers to pull a brazen broad-daylight robbery at a Cartier store in midtown Manhattan.

The robbers entered the store at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 52nd Street at about 12:30 p.m. Thursday and smashed a glass display case. Police said they made off with 16 watches worth more than $700,000.

Investigators were reviewing security video to try to identify the robbers. Police said some wore masks and all had gloves on.

Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said some of the stolen property was recovered along with the arrests Friday.

The robbers committed the heist as football fans were flocking midtown Manhattan for festivities related to the Super Bowl in New Jersey on Sunday.

Cartier said in a statement that no one was harmed.

-Jonathan Dienst contributed to this report

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us