By Lookout Staff

August 25, 2023 -- Police arrested a Florida man Monday after he tried to make off with a $40,000 watch from the Rolex store at Santa Monica Place, police officials said Friday.

Officers responded to a robbery in progress after alarms were set off by multiple store employees, said Lt. Erika Aklufi, the Police Department spokesperson.

"While officers were en route, City of Santa Monica Dispatchers relayed that onsite security were attempting to detain the combative suspect," Aklufi said.

Responding officers "quickly" took the suspect, identified as Terrence Allen, 26, into custody, she said.

During the investigation, officers learned that Allen "entered the store, requested to view a watch valued at $40,000 and once in hand, he attempted to flee." Allen immediately encountered armed security stationed outside and, after a brief struggle, the stolen watch was recovered, police said. Allen was booked into the Santa Monica Jail and was later charged by the Los Angeles District Attorney with armed robbery and grand theft. Bail was set at $125,000.

Police learned Allen was also wanted for a robbery in Georgia.

According to police data, robbery incidents increased from 39 during the first quarter last year to 47 this year, with 26 of the incidents resulting in an arrest.

Other crimes involving the taking of property have also been on the rise.

Larceny -- the unlawful taking of personal property -- jumped from 580 incidents during the first quarter of last year to 735 incidents reported this year, driven by a rise in shoplifting and auto parts theft.

Pick-pocketing incidents increased five-fold -- from 7 in the first quarter of 2022 to 35 this year, while burglary rose from 163 incidents to 180, the data show.

Anyone with any additional information about Monday's incident or the suspect should call Detective I. Tavera in the Criminal Investigations Division at 310-458-8451 or the Santa Monica Police Department’s Watch Commander (24 hours) at 310-458-8426.