Armed Robbery and Shootout Shatter Serene Saturday Afternoon at Andy’s Jewelers in Guild Square-September 11, 1978

A routine Saturday afternoon stroll turned into a dramatic scene of armed robbery, gunfire, and police pursuit in Guild Square as two gunmen targeted Andy’s Jewelers, shattering the serene atmosphere of a brilliant September weekend.

Eight Minutes of Terror at Andy’s Jewelers

For proprietors Andrew Venskus and his son, Allen Venskus, who were conducting weekend business at the shop established in 1945, Saturday afternoon brought eight terrifying minutes followed by hours of intense police interrogation. While the elder Venskus had experienced roughly eight nighttime “smash-and-grab” break-ins over the decades, this marked the first time the father and son faced active firearms and physical assault.

As soon as a customer exited the store, two young men simultaneously drew handguns. “It’s a holdup. Freeze and hands up,” one gunman ordered.

Forced to open the safe, Andrew Venskus was marched into the back room where his son Allen had already been bound hand and foot with plastic zip-ties. Although the robbers brought packing tape, they did not use it to gag the jewelers, nor did they have time to fill a violin case with stolen merchandise before police arrived.

Silent Alarm Triggers Quick Police Response and Shootout

Displaying remarkable presence of mind, Andrew Venskus managed to shift slightly toward the store’s concealed silent alarm button while being herded into the back room. Recognizing he was taking a terrible risk, he pressed the button. Unsuspecting at first, one robber interpreted the motion as non-compliance and struck the elder jeweler across the arm and shoulder with a gun butt, leaving a small abrasion.

Within approximately three minutes, uptown patrolman David DeCosta, 36, arrived at the storefront. Spying the officer through the window, one robber alerted his accomplice. When Patrolman DeCosta stepped inside to investigate potential trouble, Andrew Venskus shouted, “Help.” A burst of gunfire erupted inside the store before DeCosta retreated outside to radio for reinforcements, firing one warning shot after assessing the volatile situation. The Venskuses estimated three or four shots were fired inside the shop.

Driven into a frenzied state—which the elder jeweler suspected was fueled by drugs—the suspects managed to rip the heavy back-room door completely off its reinforced hinges when it jammed.

As backup cruisers converged on Guild Square, police officers took up tactical positions, exchanging gunfire across the parking lot separating Andy’s Jewelers and the old co-operative bank building at the corner of Guild and Central streets. Bullets ricocheted off the brick wall of Just Right Cleaners as the suspects fled through an alleyway toward Central and Park streets, pursued by officers amid crowds of startled weekend shoppers and teenagers.

Swift Apprehension and Carjacking

According to Police Chief James F. Curran, one suspect was arrested at the scene and scheduled for arraignment in Dedham District Court, while police actively pursued warrants for a second suspect.

During their panicked flight, the fleeing suspect encountered Richard Kelleher, who was working on a vehicle at his nephew’s Center Auto Body on Broadway. Kelleher, a Korean War veteran, recalled having a gun pointed directly at his head with the demand, “Get me a car with keys or you’re dead.” A vehicle was surrendered, and the suspect sped away. Kelleher later spent his evening at the police station assisting investigators rather than fishing in Harwichport.

Despite raw wrists chafed by plastic binding and a lingering state of shock, Andrew Venskus maintained his trademark resilience, joking about missing a planned fish dinner in Falmouth with his wife. “It’s a day of experience,” he reflected, confirming that the store would reopen for business as usual.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger