Vardy's Jewelers Employees Struck by Gun During Robbery

Editor's note: A previous version of this article included inaccurate information about one of the employees in a back room being struck by the suspect's gun. That employee was not struck by a gun but may have hit his head on a table during a fall.

morning pointed their guns at employees and demanded to know where the safe was, and when they didn’t get what they wanted they smashed a couple of display cases on their way out the door taking some of what was in those cases.

“They came in yelling ‘Where’s the safe? Where’s the safe?’” said Misha Shtein.

About 11:13 a.m. the three men who were wearing black ski masks came into the store while Shtein was standing at the back. One of the men pointed the gun in Shtein’s face and threatened to kill him if he didn’t comply.

Shtein was struck on the side of his head by the gun and fell to the floor.

Everybody is fine, just shaken, said one employee who asked not to be identified.

Customers and friends are calling and emailing to check on the safety and health of the owners and employees, the employee said.

Additional security is being added at the store which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary.

Almost as if in frustration for not getting into the safe the men smashed two display cases and grabbed some of the goods inside before fleeing on foot. They were last seen heading west on Rodrigues, but it’s unknown if there was a getaway car waiting for them, police said.

Sgt. Ryan Elder said police are collecting evidence and reviewing surveillance tapes to gather more information.

The men are described as light-skinned males, possibly in their 20s, but because they were wearing black ski masks and the event lasted less than a minute, physical descriptions are difficult to provide by the witnesses, Elder said.

Santa Clara County Sheriff’s detectives are working with other local law enforcement agencies to determine if this was an isolated incident or if part of a series of robberies.

Anyone with information on this case is being asked to contact Detective Sergeants Julian Quinonez or Ryan Elder at the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office at 408-808-4500 or the anonymous tip line at 408-808-4431.