Laguna Niguel Jewelry Store Robbed of $50,000 in Diamonds

A robber made off with almost $50,000 in jewelry in Laguna Niguel on Thursday during a daring midday heist that came to an end when a gun-toting clerk chased the man from the store,  Orange County sheriff's officials said.

The theft at ,  27271 La Paz Road, happened shortly after noon when a man who said he had "lots of money to spend" entered the store  and asked the owner to see a $25,000 diamond-encrusted watch, said Sheriff's Department spokesman Jim Amormino.

 The man, whom authorities described as African American, 6' 2'', slender, and wearing a black fedora cap, black pants and a green sports jacket, then asked the clerk to see a 4-carat diamond ring, valued at about $22,000, Amormino said. When the clerk came back with the ring, the suspect, who had placed the watch on his wrist,  put his hand in his jacket pocket, acting as if he had a gun, officials said.  The man grabbed the ring and ran for the door, followed by the clerk, who fired  a shot in the air outside as the suspect fled, according to Amormino.

The suspect ran in front of a supermarket toward a getaway car and took off with a waiting driver,  Amormino said. The clerk fired a second shot as the suspect continued to run, Amormino said.

No patrons were in the store at the time of the incident

The clerk told officials that he did not aim the weapon at the suspect, but rather fired it as a warning.

The same jewelry store was robbed in January 2009  in what Amormino called  a "takeover robbery," in which he said the store's employees were forced to the ground and the shop was looted.  

"The loss was much larger than the one today," he said.

Passerby Kathryn Kimber, who was shopping next door at Henry's Farmers Market,  was surprised by the commotion. "Nothing every happens in Laguna Niguel," she said.

The suspect was captured on a surveillance camera. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Sheriff's Department at (714) 647-7000.