Thieves take $750,000 in jewelry in Westside heist

PICO-ROBERTSON, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Thieves made off with $750,000 in jewelry after they attacked a man in a Westside parking lot.

The heist took place around 6:15 p.m. Thursday in the 8600 block of West Pico Boulevard. The street is dotted with bakeries, delis, restaurants and auto repair shops.

According to police, the victim was removing two carry-on size luggage bags filled with diamonds and pearls from the trunk of his car when two suspects approached him.

One suspect started tugging at one of the bags, and a struggle ensued. A second suspect then punched the victim in the nose, causing him to fall to the ground. Police say both suspects were wearing black ski masks and black clothing.

The two suspects took the bags and fled the scene in an awaiting getaway car driven by a third suspect. The car may have sped down an alleyway toward Bedford Street.

The victim was injured in the nose but was treated and released at the scene. Workers at a nearby kosher deli said the victim had stopped to get something to eat.

Investigators say the thieves got away with $750,000 in jewelry as well as $5,000 in cash.

Police did not say whether the victim is a local business owner.

If you have any information about this incident, you're urged to contact the Los Angeles Police Department.