What to Know
- A robber stole more than $700,000 in merchandise from A. Lange & Söhne, a high-end watch retailer on the Upper East Side
- Police said that the man spent less than 5 minutes inside the store, ordering everyone to the ground and smashing display cases
- A. Lange & Söhne is a German watchmaker that dates back to the 1840s; its watches can fetch tens of thousands of dollars
Police are searching for a gunman who got away with more than $700,000 in watches from a high-end watch store on the Upper East Side on Tuesday morning.
The robber was buzzed in by employees or followed another customer into the A. Lange & Söhne before he stuck the watch maker on Madison Avenue near East 67th Street about 11:30 a.m., according to authorities.
Authorities said he announced he was robbing the store and ordered the three employees and two customers inside to the ground. Police said he then asked one of the workers to unlock a display case, but smashed the glass to snatch watches when the employee took too long.
The robber thought to be about 50 years old took 13 watches and calmly walked out of the store about five minutes after he got let inside.
No shots were fired and no one was injured.
Police said that because the man so calmly boosted the watches, they don't think this is the first time he's robbed a store.
Local
A. Lange & Söhne is a German watchmaker that has been creating timepieces since 1845. The company's watches typically retail for tens of thousands of dollars. Its most expensive models can go for as much as $300,000.
Anyone with information about the robber should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
