Pepper spray, sledgehammers used in Philadelphia Mills jewelry store robbery

Philadelphia Mills mall was evacuated Saturday night after a group of men used pepper spray and sledgehammers to rob a jewelry store, authorities said.

Investigators said the incident occurred just before 7:30 p.m. at Javier the Jeweler, a shop inside the Far Northeast mall formerly known as Franklin Mills.

The four suspects “dispersed a highly concentrated OC spray” to harm employees while they used the hammers to break open display cases and swipe valuables, police said.

Multiple jewelry store staff members were treated for eye and respiratory issues, according to authorities. No customers were inside the store during the robbery. Officers and security ushered mall-goers outside, police said.

The suspects took an unknown amount of jewelry, investigators said Sunday.