6 men scared off during attempted jewel heist

Six men tried to rob a Mount Prospect jewelry store Tuesday but got away with nothing after a police officer drove by on another matter, scaring the men off, police said.

Shortly before 10:30 a.m., two men walked into Joyeria Elgin Jewelry, 1723 W. Algonquin Road, pretending to be customers.

After looking at rings, the men beat up a 48-year-old man who works at the store and bound him with duct tape, Mount Prospect police officer Bill Roscop said.

Meanwhile, four other men came into the store and proceeded to smash display cases before taking the jewelry out. At least one man implied to the victim he had a gun, Roscop said.

Then the men fled the store, taking nothing, he said. Police believe the men were scared off by a Mount Prospect police officer who happened to drive up in his car on another matter, Roscop said.

"It appears they thought (police) were there on their account," Roscop said. "So they dropped all the loot and took off."

The victim was treated at the scene for cuts and bruises.

The men are believed to be between 25 and 30 years old.

Anyone with information should call police at (847) 870-5656.