The smash-and-grab crime under investigation is a multi-million-dollar burglary that occurred in March 2022 at a Beverly Hills jewelry store. According to bystanders, “five people got out of a car and used what appeared to be sledge hammers to break the plate glass window of Luxury Jewels of Beverly Hills” (Habeshian, 2022, para. 3). They stole approximately $2.6 million worth of jewelry, including rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and obelisks, and left using another vehicle which was subsequently abandoned (Chow, 2022).
Due to the police investigation, three suspects, Ladell Tharpe, Jimmy Lee Vernon III, and Deshon Bell, were arrested to face charges of interference with commerce by robbery and conspiracy (Chow, 2022). If convicted, they may receive up to 20 years of imprisonment for each count. At the same time, the suspects’ guilt may be fully proven due to substantial evidence. Thus, while the offenders were in masks, one of them lost his cell phone at the scene of the crime that was found by police officers (Chow, 2022). In addition, another suspect posted a picture with money and words in support of his robbery gang on Instagram.
Regardless of the fact that this crime is addressed as both robbery and burglary, from a personal perspective, it is a burglary as it reflects offenders’ intention to enter a facility and commit a crime. Although the shop’s owner and employees were inside, the suspects did not interact with them to take merchandise violently. However, the facts of the potential victims’ presence and the carrying of a weapon by suspects make this burglary an aggravated crime.
Thus, if I was prosecuting this crime, I would make the same decision concerning suspects’ charges and expected punishment. However, the introduction of harsher sentences for smash-and-grab criminals looks unreasonable to me. In general, in the majority of cases, these types of crimes have purely economic reasons. In other words, people commit crimes due to poverty and unemployment. Thus, I believe that the government should focus on these issues by introducing measures of support instead of enforcing harsher sentences for defendants.
References
Chow, V. (2022). 3 men charged in smash-and-grab robbery of Beverly Hills jewelry store. KTLA. Web.
Habeshian, S. (2022). Beverly Hills smash-and-grab burglary under investigation. KTLA. Web.