Armed robbers strike Raleigh jewelry store

Three men entered Bailey’s Fine Jewelry, at 415 Daniels St., shortly after 10 a.m., police said. A woman who called 911 told the dispatcher that all three wore ski masks and were carrying handguns and a rubber mallet.

"They busted our cases. They took a bunch of diamonds, I mean big diamonds," the woman said.

She could provide only sketchy descriptions of the robbers, noting, "We were all running for cover."

A fourth man was waiting outside the jewelry store in a metallic-colored Hyundai without a license plate, which police said was stolen from Bobby Murray Chevrolet on Capital Boulevard. The robbers ran out of the store, jumped into the car and sped off, the caller said.

The robbers ditched the car at a nearby YMCA on Hillsborough Street before switching to a dark-colored van a short time later, according to police.

Bailey's posted a sign saying the store was "temporarily closed for inventory." The store reopened by 2:30 p.m. No other information was released.