Gunman Causes Uproar at South Bay Galleria

A gunman made off with watches worth an estimated $5,500 during a smash-and-grab robbery at a Macy’s at the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach Thursday, prompting a shutdown of the department store, police said.

The robbery was reported at 12:10 p.m. at the mall in the 1800 block of Hawthorne Boulevard, according to Redondo Beach police Sgt. Shawn Freeman.

Officers responded and secured the store and limited vehicle and pedestrian traffic into the mall, Freeman said.

Shoppers were ordered out of the Macy’s and officers shut down the store, the sergeant said.

Operators of nearby stores also had shoppers exit “out of caution for their customers,” he said.

“Once the (Macy’s) was secure, officers were able to view store security cameras and determine that the suspect used the handle of a handgun to smash a display case of watches on the first floor,” Freeman said. “The suspect grabbed watches out of the display case and ran towards the exit.”

A search of the store confirmed that the suspect was not inside and the business was allowed to reopen, Freeman said.

The suspect was described as Hispanic, in his mid-20s, bald and wearing a black shirt, black leather-style jacket and dark pants.

Anyone with information regarding the man’s identity was urged to call Redondo Beach police Detective Clint Daniel at (310) 379-2477, extension 2480. Anonymous tips can be supplied by calling (310) 937-6685 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS. Tips can also be emailed to crimetips@redondo.org or sent by text to (310) 339-2362.

City News Service