By Courier staff

Just before 1 p.m. Friday a crew of would-be burglars attempted a smash-and-grab job at 4C’s Finecraft Jewelers, 307 Yale Ave., in the Claremont Village, but fled after a confrontation with an employee.

Police say security video shows one suspect waiting at the store’s front door, which must be opened by an employee due to a January 2022 smash-and-grab burglary at the location. When the employee unlocks the door, three or four people carrying hammers and small plastic trashcans run past the first suspect and into the business.

The video shows the suspects were confronted by one of the store’s employees and then turned to leave the location. They then got into a silver Kia Forte which was parked in front of the business and fled first west on Bonita Avenue before heading south on Indian Hill Boulevard. The suspects are described as Black males, 20 to 25 years old, 5 feet, 8 inches to 5 feet, 10 inches tall, wearing dark clothing and surgical masks.

The attempted burglary mirrors a similar June 29 incident at the Diamond Center at 147 Yale Ave., in which three masked men carrying hammers entered the business, shattered display cases, and sped off with numerous pieces of jewelry in a waiting getaway car. In that incident the suspects were described as Black males ages 18 to 23 with thin builds who got into a newer model white, four-door Hyundai Elantra with dark tinted windows and an “Empire Works Construction” decal on the side.

Police report there was no property loss or damage to the business in Friday’s apparently botched robbery attempt.

Claremont PD asks anyone with information about either attempted burglary, or businesses that may surveillance video that may aid in the investigation, to please call (909) 399-5411.