Beverly Hills Beefing Up With Private, Armed Security Following Daylight Robbery And Shooting

As we reported, on Thursday a group of three masked men attacked a man who was dining at the famed Il Pastaio restaurant in Bev Hills -- storming the patio in broad daylight around 2 pm -- demanding the patron's high-end watch.

According to reports, the customer's jewelry was a Richard Mille watch which is valued at over $500,000.

The suspects apparently approached the man demanding the watch, and after a struggle ensued, an innocent bystander was shot in the leg.

"I'd like to take a moment and address the appalling crime that occurred this week at one of our restaurants. First and foremost, safety is our top priority in Beverly Hills, and criminal activity and any kind will never be tolerated," Rivetti said.

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He continued, "I want the world to know Beverly Hills is a very safe community. We invest significantly in our police department to ensure our officers have every resource necessary to do their jobs effectively. We will be supplementing our personnel with armed, private security guards who will have a strong, visible presence in the City. We work closely with our businesses so that shoppers and restaurants feel comfortable and secure. And we are vigilant in investigating and bringing to justice those who make the grave mistake of committing crimes here."

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At this point, the police have not made any arrests in this case, but claim they are 'actively looking' for the suspects.

"We are actively looking for the suspects in this case, in cooperation with our law enforcement partners. While similar crimes are also happening in other cities, our responsibility is to those who live in, work in, and visit Beverly Hills," the Chief said.

Adding, "We will keep the community updated on this incident, but in the meantime, please rest assured that the Beverly Hills Police Department is taking every possible measure to ensure your safety and security."

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