![A 31-year-old man who allegedly pulled a hammer out of his waistband Friday at a La Mesa jewelry store, used it to shatter a glass display case and steal thousands of dollars worth of watches was arrested a short time later while trying to make his getaway. (City of La Mesa)](https://media.nbcsandiego.com/2024/04/la-mesa-smash-n-grab.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&resize=320%2C180)
A 31-year-old man who allegedly pulled a hammer out of his waistband Friday at a La Mesa jewelry store, used it to shatter a glass display case and steal thousands of dollars worth of watches was arrested a short time later while trying to make his getaway.
Talon Fulcher of San Diego allegedly committed the smash-and-grab theft at the Grossmont Center mall business shortly before 11 a.m., then ran out of the shop and fled in a gold-colored sedan with no license plates, according to the La Mesa Police Department.
A few minutes later, an officer spotted the car nearby, in the 8400 block of Center Drive, LMPD Lt. Matt Conlon said. The patrolman and other officers pulled the suspect over a short distance away, took him into custody without incident and recovered the stolen goods, which were valued at about $7,000, the lieutenant said.
Fulcher was booked into San Diego Central Jail on suspicion of burglary, robbery and grand theft. He was being held on $100,000 bail pending arraignment, scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
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