RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR)--One of the most-talked about armed heists in recent months happened inside Carytown’s Schwarzchild's jewelry store Saturday.
It was alarming to some that it happened in the middle of the day. Meanwhile police had been busy all weekend working nearly a dozen robberies in the city.
But the Carytown robbery happened fast. About long as it takes you to read my report- 60 seconds – that’s about how much time the crooks took to make their getaway.
The other robberies and robbery attempts were all over the city, but the highest profile robbery was in the heart of Carytown. Police say the suspects stormed in and smashed jewelry cases with hammers, then uses stun guns on the clerks.
"The stun gun causes your muscles to spasm,” said Southern Gun World manager J.D. McEwan. “You lock up and fall to the ground. There's quite a bit of pain, depending on the voltage. There could be as much as 30-plus seconds you're incapacitated."
McEwan says if a Taser version of the stun gun was used, it could mean an easy capture for police, but so far no arrests have been made.
"The Taser corporation puts in tracking devices so when there’s a discharge it puts out a confetti fingerprint with serial numbers,” said McEwan. “That has information that can lead to its manufacture to its procurement. Stun guns aren't that way."
The Schwarzchild store had noticeable security Monday.
The robbery there brings to four the number of stealth-like jewelry robberies in the past year. Police are now comparing notes to see if there are any common factors.
