HOUSTON – Thomas Markle Jewelry store in northwest Harris County is closed for the rest of the day after four armed robbers smashed through their front door, stealing more than $100,000 worth of jewelry. Several employees were inside the store when they heard the glass door shatter.
"The robbers broke the door and rushed in and the people inside very sensibly rushed out the back," says neighbor Martin Cassidy.
It started at around 9 this morning when the suspects backed a white van up to the front of the store. Deputies say four men wearing hoodies and gloves jumped out and smashed the front glass door to get inside. One of them stayed outside to guard the door while other three went in, smashed the glass cases and stole over $100,000 worth of merchandise.
The men managed to steal several Rolex watches, along with other high-end watches and jewelry.
"The Rolex sign is a bit of a notice that there is something worth going after," said Cassidy.
Investigators later found the van abandoned nearby, but the suspects were long gone.
The jewelry store will reopen Thursday at 10 a.m. Investigators are still looking for those four suspects.