Brazen New York City Thieves Make Off With $700,000 in Watches

New York City police are hunting for five bandits who used hammers to pull a brazen broad-daylight robbery at a Cartier store in midtown Manhattan.

The suspects entered the store at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 52nd Street at about 12:30 p.m. on Thursday and smashed open a glass display case. Police said they made off with 16 wrist watches worth more than $700,000.

Investigators were reviewing security video to try to identify the robbers. Police said some wore masks and all had gloves on.

The heist occurred as football fans were flocking midtown Manhattan for festivities related to the Super Bowl in New Jersey on Sunday.