Updated – 2:15 p.m. – A stolen black Mercedes crashed into the window of a Bethesda jewelry store as part of a heist early Tuesday morning, Montgomery County police said.
Around 2:25, the car crashed into the Bethesda Jewelry Exchange on Old Georgetown Road and its two occupants stole an undetermined amount of merchandise. The suspects fled the scene in less than 30 seconds, according to police. Police said the vehicle was stolen from an address in Prince George’s County and the suspects backed the car into the store before fleeing in a vehicle believed to be waiting nearby, possibly driven by a third suspect.
At the scene in downtown Bethesda Tuesday, a camera was set up inside the store as workers and investigators milled about. The store’s arching front left window along Old Georgetown Road had been completely shattered. A photo taken earlier posted on Twitter showed the Mercedes still inside the store. By 10:30 a.m. the car had been removed.
Jewelry store robbery car into store.@ WUSA9 pic.twitter.com/RqkLK99SiD
— Dion Wiggins (@DwigginsDion) September 27, 2016
Police said they’re investigating the incident and did not have more details immediately available Tuesday morning. The jewelry store is at 7747 Old Georgetown Rd. The store is part of a national network of 15 jewelry stores operated by Goldenwest Diamond Corporation.
Two individuals examining the damage inside the store. Credit: Andrew Metcalf
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Police released surveillance images from inside the store Tuesday afternoon. Credit: Via Montgomery County police.