Busy Louisiana mall jewelry robbed www.privateofficer.com
BATON ROUGE, LA Sept 20 2010 – Shoppers enjoying a Sunday afternoon inside the Mall of Louisiana got a scare after a mid-day robbery caused chaos inside the shopping center.
Crowds rushed out of the mall after initial reports indicated shots were fired. Authorities later confirmed shots had not been fired. Rather, two masked thieves had robbed a jewelry stand inside the mall.
The sound people mistook for gunshots was breaking glass at the first floor jewelry kiosk.
Cassie Boudreaux was inside the mall while the mayhem ensued.
“Everyone is saying, ‘Run, get out of the mall,’” Boudreaux said. “You have women and children in here. Women pushing strollers and you see them grabbing their kids out of their strollers so they can run and get out of the mall. It’s crazy.”
Boudreaux said she also took off running after she saw a huge crowd of people rushing her way.
East Baton Rouge sheriff’s deputies said the two men sprayed workers with mace at The Gold Center kiosk. Deputies said the men then broke the glass on several jewelry cases, grabbed what they could, then took off running.
Pam Doran was another shopper there. She said she nearly lost one of her shoes trying to escape what she thought was a shooting.
“I was very scared,” Doran said. “I’ve never been in this type of situation. We just wanted to get as far away as possible.”
With security virtually everywhere — in the middle of the day with so many people around — Boudreaux said Sunday’s robbery is unbelievable.
“You think you’re in a pretty safe environment,” she said. “When something happens like this, it just makes you rethink now. Anything can happen and anything is possible.”
Mall officials told 9News the two employees sprayed with mace were treated. No other injuries were reported.
Deputies are currently on the hunt for the two robbers. If you have any information, call Crime Stoppers at 344-STOP.
Source:WAFB.com
