Smash-and-grab nets thieves $700,000 in Rolex watches

MEMPHIS, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Thieves wielding sledgehammers and guns stormed an upscale Memphis mall jewelry store Saturday night and made off with $700,000 in Rolex watches, police said.

Police said at least five men, possibly six, took part in the bold smash-and-grab robbery at 7:39 p.m. at Reed's Jewelers in Wolfchase Galleria, the (Memphis) Commercial Appeal reported.

The thieves, dressed in dark clothes, smashed display cases and stuffed 65 Rolexes valued at $11,000 apiece into pillow cases before fleeing through two exits.

Shoppers scattered during the incident but no one was injured in the robbery, the newspaper said.