Hammer-Wielding Smash-And-Grab Robbers Strike Jeweler At Hawthorn Mall

VERNON HILLS, IL — A pair of robbers armed with hammers struck a jewelry store in Hawthorn Mall Monday and fled before officers arrived, police said.

Shortly before 11:30 a.m., officers were dispatched to Z Fine Jewelry, 511 Hawthorn Ctr., fora report of a robbery, according to Vernon Hills police.

A store employee told officers that two men in dark hoodies and black masks smashed open a jewelry display case and grabbed a unknown amount of jewelry, police said.

One of the robbers threatened a worker who called 911 with a hammer, police said. No staff were physically injured in the robbery.

The two robbers got into a dark-colored SUV and fled east toward Milwaukee Avenue, according to police.

No one was in custody as of Monday afternoon. Police asked anyone with information about the incident to call investigators at 847-918-5601.