Hammer-wielding thieves rob Cartier store in midday Manhattan heist

[January 31, 2014]  NEW YORK (Reuters) — Five masked men smashed a glass case in a posh New York City jewelry store on Thursday, grabbing 17 watches in a daring robbery in broad daylight, police said.

The five men walked into the Cartier store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan at about 12:30 p.m. EST, carrying hammers, police said.

Police did not say how much the stolen watches were worth but city newspapers said the timepieces are valued at more than $700,000.

There were no arrests in the case, police said.

(Reporting by Ellen Wulfhorst; editing by Lisa Shumaker)

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