Video: CNN films jewel heist
posted at 9:10 pm on March 6, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
I’m not sure we can call this a palate cleanser, so we’ll just note it as a strange coincidence. CNN wanted to do a segment on a book release — Love in a Headscarf?? — but instead found itself covering a jewel heist instead:
Having worked in retail security for several years, a few points strike me about this. First, although smash-and-grabs on storefronts are nothing new, they almost always occur at night after the shops close. The brazen sledgehammer attack and motorcycle getaway shows some planning, even if they do drop the sledgehammer rather than keep it from being tracked. I’m just a little amazed that anyone would try this during business hours, especially on matching motorcycles whose registration information can clearly be seen.
And Love in a Headscarf? It’s the “Muslim Bridget Jones’ Diary“. Not sure why that rated a television segment, but here it is, if you’re curious.
Blowback
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Let it be known henceforth, that Ed Morrissey was a mall cop..
Smiles on March 6, 2009 at 9:14 PM
It’s an AD stunt for the new GTA. Ya know, the one about the motorcycle gang.
- The Cat
MirCat on March 6, 2009 at 9:18 PM
I can see him now, running around on his Segway ;-)
conservnut on March 6, 2009 at 9:20 PM
just some wealth redistribution, no big deal.
rob verdi on March 6, 2009 at 9:21 PM
Obama voters I’m sure.
TampaBayBull on March 6, 2009 at 9:22 PM
“Love in a HeadScarf”!
Me thinks,depending on what ‘Moderate Muslim’ country
your in,and if you even get to see it,you just might
lose your head!
Next Movie coming,
Sex in a Burka,and
Forbiden Bluejean sex
in Mecca! ahem,hehe!
canopfor on March 6, 2009 at 9:28 PM
Jewel could not be reached for comment.
BDavis on March 6, 2009 at 9:33 PM
“Police arrived moments later.”
That’s how the system is designed to work. And, it’s the reason I carry a gun.
Bruce in NH on March 6, 2009 at 9:52 PM
Wow! CNN actually covers some news……by accident.
conservativecaveman on March 6, 2009 at 9:53 PM
Who’s filming the theft of trillions from our children?
jgapinoy on March 6, 2009 at 9:58 PM
There be the rub. Gun ownership in England is almost nil, by law I might add.
That also speaks to the point that Ed was making. In the US, this crime would have taken place in the pitch black of night, because the perpetrators would be concerned that some unknown security guard with a gun, or a private citizen with a gun, would either foil the robbery, or at least prevent one or more of the thieves from escaping, possibly even killing said thief.
That is the advantage of an armed society. It creates an atmosphere of danger, for the criminal. It increases the risks associated with crime, and if a majority of the people of England were armed, then crimes like that would be much more infrequent.
Of course, since we’re following in the footsteps of England, and attempting to legislate away our God given right to defend ourselves, Crimes like this are probably going to be happening on the streets of America soon.
Snake307 on March 6, 2009 at 10:11 PM
Off business hours, they move the jewelery and watches into a safe, so there is nothing to “smash and grab” at night.
Tim Burton on March 6, 2009 at 11:00 PM
I witnessed the same sort of thing a few years back while eating at a cafe in San Francisco. Two guys ran into the store next door, broke a display case and made off with a bag full of jewelry. It happened so fast, the guys were speeding away before anyone realized what had just happened. Just like this one, it occurred in broad daylight during the lunch hour rush.
Zaire67 on March 6, 2009 at 11:00 PM
My guess is that is The One’s crew gathering gifts for Hamas and Iran diplomats.
Dire Straits on March 7, 2009 at 12:07 AM
What, exactly, makes it a “heist”? It was just a smash-and-grab.
Ortzinator on March 7, 2009 at 12:10 AM
From what I’ve read, this is pretty much typical for England. Good thing no one tried to stop the perps, if one of the perps had been hurt the good samaritan would have been arrested.
/NOT kidding
AZfederalist on March 7, 2009 at 12:22 AM
No jeweler leaves valuables in the cases at night. Everything valuable is put away in the safe at night and put back on display before opening in the morning. I did it for 17 years. :-)
trigon on March 7, 2009 at 1:15 AM
Why? Subprime mortgages were done during business hours.
platypus on March 7, 2009 at 1:43 AM
I totally agree with gun ownership in the States. As an American, I see it as an inviolable right.
However, that being said, the people on this thread commenting about using it in broad daylight, with thieves between customers inside the store and in front of innocent people in the middle of a busy street, are really just blowing hot air. =)
Now, I may be wrong about this, but I think that Jewelry stores in England actually can own firearms for their security. And there may be some damn good reasons for not firing on thieves in that circumstance. There may have been innocent people on both sides of the thieves, or even simply on one side. We don’t know. I would hope that nobody here would just pull their handgun and start shooting randomly. Even in that sort of situation, when your store is being robbed, you have to think of the safety of others.
The robbery probably only took about ten seconds. Sometimes that’s not enough for a clear shot in a circumstance like this. You can’t just just from that video and I would hope that nobody thinks that the right solution would have just to let loose several rounds, come what may be in the way or behind them.
That’s definitely not cool.
Summer on March 7, 2009 at 1:57 AM
Just like in the movies! I mean the semi in the way and everything. And since this is in England, the obligatory double decker bus too.
- The Cat
MirCat on March 7, 2009 at 2:15 AM
As if ANY job is beneath someone. I have held much worse jobs. Yeah yeah yeah… the whole ‘Mall Cop’ movie thing, I get it. But condescension isn’t necessary.
Ugly on March 7, 2009 at 2:41 AM
Ed, you made a major mistake with this “mall cop” business. You’ll never live that down! LOL
Warner Todd Huston on March 7, 2009 at 3:49 AM
This crime wouldn’t have happened at night as nobody would leave valuable jewellry in a glass case overnight. As for the gun thing, I’d much rather have this than armed robbery.
dodo on March 7, 2009 at 5:50 AM
Yep, when seconds count, help is only minutes away.
mr.blacksheep on March 7, 2009 at 8:25 AM
I’m sorry, but you are completely wrong about that. They won’t even let private security guards carry batons, pepper spray, or tasers.
jic on March 7, 2009 at 8:28 AM
And Britannia is heading towards socialism, so we had a glimpse of our future – anarchy and street crime without consequences.
MSGTAS on March 7, 2009 at 8:37 AM
Obviously a CNN set up job. I was sure I saw Larry King standing in the crowd near one of the motorcycles. It is amazing what they will do to sell advertising these days.
percysunshine on March 7, 2009 at 9:16 AM
Not the MSM! They’d rather be covering important news stories like this one!
ErinF on March 7, 2009 at 9:57 AM
nice job.
UNREPENTANT CONSERVATIVE CAPITOLIST on March 7, 2009 at 12:21 PM
“inviolable right.”
Ain’t no such critter.
Obama and the leftists have violated every one, starting with the right to live.
lsheldon on March 7, 2009 at 8:05 PM
Pretty brazen because they have little to lose if they are caught. Most criminals when caught are not arrested in the UK but cautioned. And the motor bikes were probably stolen and they wore gloves so a sledgehammer is not much evidence.
federale86 on March 8, 2009 at 11:58 AM