Bystander Hit With Hammer During Woodlands Mall Robbery

Updated: 1:12 p.m. Jan. 4: An innocent bystander who was hit in the face with hammer during a smash and grab robbery inside the Woodlands Mall, is expected to be OK.

"At last report, he was up and talking," said Montgomery County Sheriff's Office spokesman Bryan Carlisle told KPRC. "We don't know the severity of those injuries, but nonetheless, our thoughts and prayers are with him right now."

The man, whose identity has not been released, was rushed to an area hospital after one of the two men who'd robbed a Helzberg Diamonds store hit him in the face with a hammer.

They left the mall in a red Toyota Rav4, which was found abandoned in Oak Ridge North, police said. The men are still at large.

Investigators said the robbers got away with about $75,000 in merchandise.

MCSO

Original Story: THE WOODLANDS, TX -- A Good Samaritan who intervened and tried to stop a robbery suspect inside The Woodlands Mall was hit with a hammer by the suspect, police said.

According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, two men walked into the Helzberg Diamonds jewelry story in the mall, and began smashing jewelry cases with a hammer and spray painting cameras.

Officials said that the two men were running across the walkway to the Zales Jewelry store, when a Good Samaritan tried to stop one of the men, who hit him with a hammer.

It’s not known if the victim needed medical attention.

The pair ran from the mall and got into a Toyota SUV, which was later found abandoned behind Oak Ridge High School.

As a precaution, the Conroe Independent School District placed Oak Ridge Elementary, Oak Ridge High School 9th Grade Campus, Oak Ridge High School and Houser Elementary School were all placed on lock-out.

Lock out means that classes are still going on as usual on all four campuses, but all outside doors are locked.

Police don’t yet know how much merchandise was taken.

Meanwhile, police in nearby Shenandoah, and Oak Ridge North are working with the Sheriff’s Office to find the robbery suspects.

Image: Shutterstock/MCSO