Three masked men armed with sledge hammers busted into a northwest Harris County jewelry store Wednesday, smashed open cases and made off with the jewelry.

Just before 1 p.m., three men dressed in all black went into the Zales jewelry store at 5302 FM 1960 and Greenwood Forest Drive. The men were in the store for less than a minute, witnesses said.

"It was very scary. I've still got a knot in my stomach," a female employee said. "They had dark clothes on, so I couldn't tell what color they were. All I know is they had black hoodies on. It scared me to death."

William Cook and his wife were the only two customers in the store during the robbery, along with two female employees.

"There's a little buffer room, they call it, and we got in that room," Cook said. "We got in that room. One of the ladies was very hysterical and did a lot of praying while we were back in that little room."

The crime, officials said, was similar to a theft last month at the Galleria where thieves stole several Rolex watches. Investigators with the Harris County Sheriff's Office said it was too early to tell if the crimes were connected.

Sheriff's deputies said the men got away in a white, four-door car with a paper license plate.