Brea Mall smash and grab robbery terror as ‘SCREAMING shoppers mistake sledgehammer sound for gunfire’ as suspects flee

SHOPPERS were told to shelter in place during a smash and grab robbery at a California mall on Friday.

Officers from the Brea Police Department responded to the area as the robbery frightened shoppers around 7pm local time, causing chaos at the Brea Mall.

Police said two male suspects used hammers to smash glass cases inside a Kay Jewelers store and stole jewelry.

Several shoppers who heard the hammers striking the glass mistook it for the sound of gunshots, causing them to flee.

Shoppers were told to shelter in place as police arrived on the scene.

The suspects have not been located.

The public was asked to avoid the Brea Mall area as police investigated the robbery.

Police described the suspects as two Black males in their late teens or early 20s, weighing 170 to 180 pounds.

Police said they are between 5 feet 9 inches tall to 6 feet tall.

They were last seen wearing black hoodies, red sweatpants, and face masks.

The investigation is ongoing.