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Smash-and-grab thieves caught on camera stealing gold from jewelry store with owner nearby

The three thieves in black hoodies walked up to Arnold's Jewelry & Watch Repair in the middle of the day and smashed a jewelry case with a hammer.

HOUSTON — A jewelry store owner and the Harris County Sheriff's Office are hoping someone will recognize three guys caught on surveillance video stealing gold right in front of the owner.

It happened on Wednesday, Nov. 22, at Arnold's Jewelry and Watch Repair inside the El Rancho Supermercado on Veterans Memorial Drive. 

One of them smashed a case with a hammer and grabbed about $20,000 worth of gold chains before running off. 

Owner Jared Arnoldo Mejia threw a mirror at them and then tried to follow them but they got away. It all happened in a flash in the middle of the day.

"Maybe 30 seconds," Mejia said.

He's been on edge ever since. 

"I see people, I'm scared."

Mejia moved to the U.S. from Mexico 22 years ago to give his family a better life. He's operated the small shop in north Harris County for the last three years.

"Very important, it's my job, makes me money for my family and me," Mejia told us.

His daughter Neida Guzman shares her father's frustrations.

"They take your hard-earned money. Why would you do that to a small business, and you take advantage of someone who has built a (business) from the bottom to the top?" Guzman asked. 

Mejia is still shocked the thieves were bold enough to commit a robbery in the busy supermarket with security cameras everywhere.

"He's saying that the fact there are cameras and everything and they were still able to do that and they had no fear, even with workers here, and they still did that, to him, he feels like they're making fun of us," Guzman explained. 

They're both hoping the culprits are caught soon before they hit another business. 

Even though his insurance doesn't cover lost inventory, Mejia said he won't let this setback stop him.

"He's saying, 'life continues, everything is possible' and he'll invest and try to fix this the best of his ability," Guzman said. "Life don't stop."

If you recognize the suspects or have any information about the crime, call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477) or HCSO at 713-274-9200. 

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