Newport Avenue Antiques Store Robbed at Gunpoint

An armed robbery took place at the Ocean Beach Antiques Mall at approximately 12:45 p.m. on June 16.

Two Hispanic men reportedly entered the antiques store located at 4926 Newport Avenue and pretended to be customers. They lured shop employees to the back of the store and then, using guns, they threatened the employees and bound their hands with tape. The thieves, in their mid 20s, grabbed three shelves of gold jewelry before walking out the door.

San Diego police officers surrounded the area soon after. (As of this writing, it was unknown whether the employees freed themselves or got help.) Curious passersby walked around the "no trespassing" yellow police tape that sealed off the entrance to the shop.

A shaken female employee was being interviewed by detectives as I walked by along Newport Avenue. A nearby skateboarder named "Kyle" complained about the excessive police presence: "What's with all these cops harshing my O.B. buzz?"