CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A violent jewelry store robbery in the SouthPark area is still unsolved one year after a man pepper-sprayed and punched the owners.
"You're always on edge. You're always watching out," said Mario Makar, owner of A. Bonnart Jewelers.
The slightest things can bring back memories of last May, when a man disguised as a pest control worker walked into the store.
"That day the buzzer at the door was turned off because I get busy at lunch time," Makar said. "That will never happen again."
The robber walked to the back of the store.
“As soon as he came in, he had the spray in his hand," Makar said. "He sprayed me and he sprayed my father."
Surveillance cameras captured Makar trying to fend off the attack. He even grabbed a gun.
"I tried to shoot him and I missed because of the pepper spray," he said.
The robber wrestled it from Makar's hand, and then started the heist. Makar believes the thief knew which cases to target. In less than two minutes, the man cleaned out $140,000 in Rolex watches and fine jewelry.
One year later, no arrests have been made.
Makar spent $5,000 on improving the store's security system, including cameras and locks that keep customers outside until Makar lets them in.
Makar said the robber casually walked out the front door of his business.
According to Makar, a witness told him he saw the man dump the jewelry in the trunk of his getaway car and the robber climbed in the trunk, too.
If you recognize the man in the surveillance video, call Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police.