Published Feb. 3, 2022
BY SHAYLA DUTTA
Crimes known as “smash-and-grabs,” in which robbers, armed with sledgehammers, smash display cases or windows of stores and run away with the exposed items, have recently gained popularity in California–most well known by the raids of San Francisco’s Union Square and Los Angeles’s Nordstrom Rack–and downtown Carmel is no exception.
At 4 a.m. on Sept. 4., five masked robbers smashed the windows of high-end consignment clothing store Foxy Couture, incurring damages and loss up to $300,000. On Dec. 7, Fourtané Jewelers was targeted for a crime of a similar nature, involving sledgehammers and costly losses, but this time while the store was open and employees were present.
“This is a typical crime that happens to jewelry stores,” Fourtané owner Josh Bonifas explains. “I’m not saying we knew it was coming, but we were definitely aware of what was going on due to the flash-mob robberies going on in San Francisco.”
No one was harmed during either break in, but Susan Galvin, the owner of Foxy Couture, had been attacked during a previous robbery of her store in December 2020. On that occasion, six people robbed the store which was staffed with four employees at the time.
“It was extremely upsetting and shocking,” Galvin says, “but after doing the research we realized it’s not uncommon, at least as far as my industry goes.”
Despite Fourtané’s extensive security measures, the intruders managed to break one of their showcases and steal the jewelry inside. Since then, the store has hired another armed guard, bringing the total to two, and seen the conviction of one of the robbers, just 16 years old.
Foxy Couture has also seen an increase in security measures. In the interest of helping maintain that security, they note they are unable to disclose specific information, but after multiple robberies and even more dangerous situations, they have invested a great amount of time and money in that area.
Smash-and-grab robberies, while not a new threat for jewelry stores like Fourtané Jewelers in Carmel, have recently become more frequent and brazen. (Photo by LOVINA WORICK)
“Because of the things we carry in our store, we are more likely to get robbed,” says junior Piper Mahoney, an employee at Foxy Couture. “But we’ve taken a lot of extra precautions, and I feel safe because the owner is prioritizing our safety.”
For other local businesses, or businesses at risk of similar break-ins, Bonifas emphasizes guards and guard dogs as helpful preventative measures.
“I understand why most businesses can’t invest in the protections we have,” Bonifas says, “but have some type of guard as a deterrent and have insurance because nothing is worth putting anybody at risk for.”
Bonifas commends the Carmel Police Department for their support and exemplary handling of the investigation.
“It was incredible to watch the police and the FBI work,” Bonifas says. “I can’t thank them enough. I think we at least sent a message that in Carmel, you won’t get away with it.”
While Fourtané Jeweler’s has seen the conviction of at least one robber so far, Foxy Couture has struggled with the more lenient laws that inhibit prosecution and, according to them, are a serious lack of deterrent.
“It’s not just a luxury issue,” Galvin says. “It’s an issue of people trying to steal anything they can resell.”
Lately, smash-and-grabs aren’t the only popular crime. Car break-ins, and flash-mob robberies, in which a group of people agree on a certain time to storm and overwhelm a certain store location, have become exceedingly common, especially in the Bay Area.
While such incidents are much less likely to occur in Carmel or surrounding areas, many local businesses are taking it as a warning to increase or reinforce their security.
