Police in New York City are searching for a group of thieves who stole $700,000 worth of jewelry from a Cartier store on Thursday, NBCNews.com reported.
The five bandits approached the store, located at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 52nd Street, in broad daylight around 12:30 p.m. After smashing the windows open, they snatched 16 watches worth $700,000 and ran.
Authorities are reviewing security footage to identify the suspects, however each one was wearing a mask and gloves.
According to the New York Post, about a dozen workers and half dozen customers were inside the store during the break-in.
"It happened so fast that people didn't really know what was going on," a police source said to the Post. "They heard the smashing of the display case, but they thought it was an accident outside. And the perps ran out before the customers realized anything."
Before they arrived at Cartier, the group of robbers reportedly tried to steal from a Wempe jewelry store but were thrown out by a guard.
Kedar Nesby, a security employee at a nearby store, said the area is lacking in their protection from police this week due to Super Bowl festivies in other parts of the city.
Sources close to police believe the Cartier heist is related to at least six other "smash and grabs" in the city.
No arrests have been made in the case.
