Police are investigating a report that three armed men took $100,000 in jewelry, including a Rolex watch, from a victim in a downtown Walnut Creek parking garage Friday night.
Officers responded to the reported holdup in a parking garage in the 1600 block of Mount Diablo Boulevard about 10:21 p.m., according to police.
The victim was struck in the face with a firearm and robbed of $100,000 in jewelry, according to what the victim told the officers, police said. The victim described the suspects as three men wearing dark clothing and carrying rifles. The suspects were said to have fled in a grey sedan before police arrived.
The victim was treated for minor injuries at the scene, police said.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the Walnut Creek Police Department at (925) 943-5844 or call the anonymous tip line at (925) 943-5865.
Walnut Creek Police were not able to confirm Saturday whether the victim was wearing that $100,000 worth of jewelry or just in possession of the jewelry.
Employees at businesses along the 1600 block of Mt. Diablo Boulevard told NBC Bay Area that the robbery happened in the Olympic Place Parking Garage. The shopping center on this block is listed by Kimco Realty, NBC Bay Area reached out to Kimco Realty for comment but has not received a response.
Kriti Kumari, who was walking with her family in downtown Walnut Creek on Saturday, said she heard about the robbery on her neighborhood Nextdoor chat.
"When we read about these kinds of things, we get kind of scared," Kumari said.
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"It's terrible that these crimes are still happening, it's just outrageous," said Belle Musfeldt of Pleasanton who was visiting Walnut Creek on Saturday.
Musfeldt said that this armed robbery in Walnut Creek reminded her of other recent armed robberies across the East Bay. She said she wants to see government leaders do more to "get the guns off the street."
"We're seeing it all over the East Bay and it's kind of tragic, people in pain cause pain," said Paul Piessner of Pleasanton who was in Walnut Creek Saturday.
Piessner said he hopes to see the community address the economic and social factors that might be fueling crimes like this.
"It's heartbreaking," he said, "hopefully the economy gets better, hopefully, the community gets to a better place as well."
