Store owner 'not scared' while fighting off armed robbers at Dearborn jewelry store

Kamel Kharroubi suffers broken nose, busted head in attack

DEARBORN, Mich. – A Dearborn jewelry store owner who fought back against three armed robbers talked to Local 4's Mara MacDonald about the attack that left him hospitalized with a broken nose and stitches.

The store owner said he saw a man pointing a gun at him and decided to fight back, likely saving his own life.

One of the robbers walked into the store dressed as a Muslim woman, but the three men were actually armed robbers.

Shattered glass was left everywhere in the aftermath of the coordinated attack. The man dressed as a veiled Muslim woman got into Kamel Kharroubi's store and shoved a gun in his face.

"I didn't stop," Kharroubi said. "I was fighting with them."

The robbers tried their best to subdue him, and wanted him on the ground behind the showcase. But Kharroubi knew if he gave up and let them put him on the ground, they'd kill him.

"If I didn't fight, they would have taken everything," Kharroubi said. "Sometimes when you fight with these guys and you don't surrender to their act, they will do more harm to you (if you didn't) fight."

The men managed to get away with about 25 percent of the store's wares, primarily gold bangles and necklaces, as well as charms.

Kharroubi called police as soon as the robbers took off, and was in the hospital Wednesday afternoon getting his broken nose worked on and busted head stitched up.

Now he's back at work, cleaning up the mess.

"I never get scared of them," Kharroubi said. "I just want to live. Never get scared of them. If everybody gets scared of them, all the city will close."

Original story about the attack

Armed robbers got into a jewelry store near Warren Avenue and Schaefer Road in Dearborn Wednesday and ransacked the business in a violent smash-and-grab.

Police said the robbers got into the store and managed to trash it in a matter of minutes.

The back and front of the shopping block has surveillance cameras covering multiple angles, and they captured video of the three thieves entering the jewelry store.

Two men went in the back, and another went through the front. Sources told Local 4 they went into the store masquerading as shoppers and veiled like Arabic women.

But the ruse was short-lived, and the men started smashing cases, scooping up gold and jewelry and leaving behind shattered glass and perhaps a few fingerprints.

The salon owner next door heard the store owner's screams through the walls. He went out the back to help, but the door was locked, and through the glass, he found himself face-to-face with a gunman.

One of the robbers pistol-whipped the owner before fleeing, leaving the man hospitalized with a bloody gash on his head. He is expected to be OK.

Neighbors are saddened by the attack and frightened, but they're glad he's still alive.

"Crimes of this nature are particularly disturbing because the suspects showed no regard for the safety of the employee," Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad said. "Crimes like this will not be tolerated. We are urging the public to come forward with information regarding this incident."

Police said the men left in an older-model red Chevrolet Cavalier convertible, believed to be a 1995 to 2002 model year.

Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the three men.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.

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About the Authors:

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.