HOUSTON -- Shoppers watched in horror Tuesday morning as robbers hit a southwest Houston mall jewelry store during business hours, investigators told KPRC Local 2.

According to the Harris County Precinct 5 Constable's Office, four robbers entered the Ben Bridge Jewelers store in Memorial City Mall at about 10:20 a.m. and smashed one of the glass cases open.

The crooks' vehicle was caught on a surveillance videotape. The men were in a white minivan that did not have a rear license plate. They then entered the mall and went straight to the store.

"There were four men beating on the glass. Glass was flying everywhere. I had my children with me, so I shooed them back into the other store and went back in and called 911," an unidentified shopper said. "There were not a lot of people around so that was what was so frightening because this one man turned around like he was going to look at us. When I saw what was happening, I kind of turned my eyes away from him because he was holding his waist. I don't know what he was holding, but it was kind of creepy."

The heist was over within a matter of minutes.

The robbers got away with several high-end Rolex watches worth thousands of dollars.

Memorial City Mall officials said they are cooperating with police in the investigation.

Anyone with information should call the Houston Police Department's Robbery Division at (713) 708-0700.