PITTSBURGH — The FBI is now involved in the investigation of a $1 million jewelry heist over the weekend in the parking lot of a Monroeville restaurant.
Police said the theft was reported around 8 p.m. Saturday when a man came to pick up dinner from Udipi Café. While he was inside the restaurant, surveillance video captured four people running to the man’s vehicle.%
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Another man was still sitting inside the vehicle, protecting an estimated $1.25 million worth of jewelry. Authorities said the thieves assaulted the man and took off running with the jewelry.
Pinter Patel said he was taking the driver’s order when the robbery happened.
"He ran after them, and I ran. He jumped on the car. They went faster, and he was on the ground,” Patel said.
Patel said he called 911, but when officers arrived, the four thieves were gone.
Authorities said the two victims are jewelry merchants from out of state. Both were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
"Both were bleeding. The one guy was punched in the nose and unconscious. The owner himself was bleeding from both hands,” Patel said.
Investigators said they don’t know the identities of the thieves, but they believe that one, who lost a hat, is a woman.
Channel 11 News learned Monday that Monroeville police requested assistance from the FBI because the crime might have crossed state lines.