Surveillance released in jewelry store robbery

NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (WSVN) -- Police are searching for two thieves who robbed a South Florida jewelry store in broad daylight.

The robbery occurred at the K&Y Jewelers in Northwest Miami-Dade at 9:50 a.m. on Wednesday.

Surveillance video captured two men wearing baseball hats and sunglasses walking into the store pretending to be customers. They asked the owner several questions about jewelry repair. The men then jumped over the counter and tied up the woman and her daughter. "It was the worst three minutes of my life," said owner Kirenia Badin.

Badin said one of the men was talking to her while the other one held her mother at gunpoint. "He asked me something about jewelry repair, and I was explaining to him, and in the meantime the other guy with a gun came in and was pointing the gun at my mom," she said.

Badin said they took everything in sight and even took things out of the safe that were on layaway. "I had to repay everything. It's not their fault. It's not even my fault, but I have to do it, I have to replace it," said Badin in tears.

Badin had everything open because she was setting up for the day and even opened the store earlier than usual. "They knew that we were in the process of opening. The alarm was off, the safe has to be open," said Badin.

Each jewelry case is protected with a panic button. "He told us if we touch the button, the panic button they will kill us," said Badin.

The store has only been open for four months. It took Badin 12 years to be able to open her jewelry store. "I've been working and saving everything for almost 12 years to open this store," she said.

The suspects got away in a white pickup truck with thousands of dollars worth in merchandise.

If you have any information on these thieves, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.

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