A smash-and-grab robbery at the Brea Mall Friday night sent patrons scrambling with fears of a shooting, though the Brea Police Department was quick to clarify that the loud sounds people heard were the glass cases at Kay Jewelers being broken.
The robbery at 1010 Brea Mall Road took place just before 7 p.m., when two men “used hammers to break glass cases inside the Kay Jewelers and stole jewelry,” the department said on Twitter.
“Some witnesses heard what they thought were firearms; however, the sound was from the hammers striking the glass,” police added.
Police did not say how much was stolen, the public is asked to avoid the mall while the search and investigation are ongoing.
The suspects, who are still at large as of about 9:30 p.m. Friday, are described as two Black men in their late teens or early 20s, police added on Twitter.
The men, who are between 5 feet, 9 inches and 6 feet tall and weigh about 170 or 180 pounds, were last seen wearing wearing black hoodies, red sweatpants and face masks, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Celmer at 714-990-7741 or jcelmer@cityofbrea.net.