Newhall Merchant Bound and Robbed of $250,000 in Jewelry
Two men stole more than $250,000 worth of jewelry in a Friday morning robbery at Jasmin’s jewelry store in Newhall, Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies said.
Deputies said store owner Leon Aznavour, 37, was alone in the store, in the 23000 block of Lyons Avenue, about 10:30 a.m. when he opened the security door to admit a man dressed in a business suit, Sgt. Bob Olmsted said. The man “immediately pointed a large-caliber blue-steel revolver and demanded that the safe be opened,” Olmsted said.
Another man entered the store and tied Aznavour’s wrists and ankles with duct tape and forced him into a closet. The two then looted the store of 400 rings, 1,000 loose jewels and several bracelets, necklaces and watches, and fled.
Aznavour escaped from the closet later and activated a security alarm, authorities said. He was not injured.
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