Rantz: Oblivious Seattle police chief dined yards from $2M heist — getaway car trapped his detail’s SUV

Four masked robbers stormed Menashe & Sons Jewelers in West Seattle last Thursday, making off with an estimated $2 million in diamonds, luxury watches, and gold in less than 90 seconds. They used hammers to smash their way through the front door and six display cases, armed with bear spray and a Taser.

And where was Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes during the brazen heist? According to a police source, he was yards away eating lunch. The robbers’ getaway car even blocked Barnes’ police SUV as they ransacked the jeweler before speeding off.

“Chief Barnes and his security detail were at a nearby business when the robbery occurred,” a spokesperson for the Seattle Police Department explained to The Jason Rantz Show on Seattle Red 770 AM. He could not confirm the chief was in a restaurant. “They were inside the business and were unaware of the crime unfolding. The suspects were in and out of the jewelry store in exactly 90 seconds. His security detail was in plain clothes at the time of the robbery.”

Bad optics

The city’s top cop, flanked by his protective detail, was oblivious while one of the city’s most iconic jewelers was being ransacked in broad daylight.

“Chief Barnes and his detail became aware of the robbery when the police vehicles, equipped with lights and sirens, responded to the incident,” the spokesperson explained, noting he wasn’t sure if they were inside a restaurant or a different business at the time.

The optics, especially for the mayor, are problematic. Mayor Bruce Harrell just suffered a humiliating defeat in the primary and continues to insist the city doesn’t have a crime crisis. Yet this major crime wasn’t merely committed in broad daylight but yards away from Harrell’s hand-selected police chief.

Thieves made off with $2 million in jewelry

Surveillance video shows the thieves targeting a case with roughly $750,000 in Rolex watches, another with a $125,000 emerald necklace, and several more filled with high-end gold pieces. Josh Menashe, the store’s vice president, told reporters the staff was “pretty shook up” but thankfully uninjured. The store remained closed as crews assess the staggering losses.

SPD later issued a statement noting that robbery detectives and crime scene investigators were dispatched to collect evidence. But that won’t overshadow the humiliating optics of a police chief missing a heist unfolding practically in front of him.

Anyone with information is asked to call the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000. Anonymous tips are welcome.

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