3 Wanted Robbers

3 subjects cut hole in store’s wall, then ambush and beat jeweler

by Crime Videos

Oak Lawn, IL – On May 22, 2023, three male subjects entered a vacant business that is next to a jewelry store. The subjects then cut a hole through the wall of the empty business, to break into the jewelry store. The three subjects waited until the jeweler had unlocked the store in the afternoon, and they then appeared from the wall with a crowbar and possibly guns.

The subjects demanded the keys to the safe and ordered the jeweler to get on the ground, however, the owner didn’t have the keys with him. The subjects eventually struck the jeweler with a blunt object.

As the jeweler was bleeding on the ground, the subjects reportedly stole items on display. They broke through display cases and stole necklaces, bracelets, jewelry, and loose jewelry and stones.

The jeweler was treated for minor injuries. The Jewelers’ Security Alliance (JSA) is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrests of these subjects. Contact JSA at 212-687-0328 or jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org. When you provide information, your identity will be kept confidential.

The subjects are featured below:

3 Wanted Robbers

Watch the news clip below:

police tape

Jeweler Shot in the face

by Crimes

Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands, – On May 18, 2023, shortly before 2:00 p.m., the owner of a jewelry store was shot in the face during a robbery. Two subjects were involved in the robbery and then escaped with an unknown amount of jewelry. Police said the robbers will face charges of third-degree assault, simple assault, and grand larceny when they are caught.

The owner was transported to a hospital, but their current condition is unknown. No physical description of the subjects was provided.

Jewelry from the Greenvault Museum

5 family members convicted of multi-million dollar Dresden Museum Burglary

by International

Dresden, Germany – On May 16, 2023, a German court convicted five men for their involvement in the 2019 burglary of 18th-century jewelry located in Dresden’s Green Vault Museum. The suspects were sentenced to varying prison sentences from four years and four months to six years and three months.

The five men, ranging in age from 24 to 29, broke into the Greenvault Museum on November 25, 2019. In that incident, the subject stole 21 pieces of jewelry that contained more than 4,300 diamonds.

The suspects were found to have started a fire before breaking into the museum, to cut power to the streetlights, and they also set a car on fire in a garage that was near the museum.

The suspects were arrested months after the burglary. Law enforcement has stated that most of the stolen jewelry has been recovered.

Pictures of the stolen jewelry

Image of Jewelry from German heist

Photo credit: “Some of the jewels stolen during the heist. Photo: Jürgen Karpinski/Grünes Gewölbe/Polizeidirektion Dresden via AFP”

Watch the video below to learn more

DISTRACTION THEFT – CHEEKTOWAGA, NY

by Daily Blog

On 5/15/23, a jewelry store performed inventory counts and discovered that five pairs of fashion earrings were missing. Video review showed that on 5/13/23, at approximately 4:25 p.m., two male subjects were being shown earrings from a case. These particular cases are guest facing and glass slides both left and right for side by side selling. Both males positioned themselves in front of the case and had the team member showing from one side. Subject 1 then slid the glass on the other side to take a small component containing the earrings while subject 2 was looking at one earring being presented. The team member never saw the sleight of hand theft.

Subject 1: Black male, 40’s, 5’8″, black ball cap, khaki pants, and a surgical mask.

Subject 2: Black male, 60, 6’0″, walks with a limp, grey Yankees ball cap, grey pullover shirt, blue jeans and white Nike sneakers. He was last seen wearing a surgical mask.

If you have any information regarding these subjects, please contact the Jewelers’ Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.

Handcuffs

Subjects commit brazen smash and grab captured on video

by Arrests

Tokyo, Japan – On May 8th, 2023, at approximately 6:30 p.m., three masked men entered a store that sells luxury watches. The subjects were armed with knives, and ordered five employees to “Get down on the floor, or we’ll kill you.” No customers were in the store at the time of the robbery.

During the robbery, the subjects smashed the store’s display cases using a weapon that was believed to be a crowbar or metal pipe. They obtained over 100 watches. The subjects were inside the location for approximately 10 minutes. They then fled in a white van.

The police managed to track the robbers vehicle later that day, which was approximately 1.9 miles away from the crime scene. Police located four men, who were then taken into custody. No employees were injuried during the crime. Smash and grabs of this nature have been described rare occurrences in Japan.

Video of the crime:

SUBJECTS WANTED FOR GUNPOINT SMASH & GRAB – FRANKLIN, NJ

by Daily Blog

On 5/1/23, four subjects committed an armed robbery at a jewelry store in Franklin, TN. Upon responding to a call of an armed robbery reported to 911 at 11:56 a.m., responding officers from the Franklin Township Police discovered that three male subjects broke the glass of the store’s locked front door to gain entry into the business. A fourth subject stayed in an awaiting vehicle outside of the store. One of the subjects that entered the store, brandished a gun toward employees. The other two subjects then smashed display cases and stole jewelry. All four subjects escaped. The subjects were described as wearing masks and gloves. No physical description was provided. They were last seen in an older model silver 4-door Lincoln Town car, which was described as having out-of-state license plates. If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact the Jewelers’ Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.

Diamond

High-end jewelry store in Paris robbed

by International

Paris, France – On April 29, 2023, a high-end jewelry store experienced a robbery. Video recorded by eyewitness shows a subject standing outside the store wearing a helmet and holding a gun. Two subjects then exited from the inside of the businesses, and all three subjects escaped.

The same store was targeted in September 2021, and suspects from that incident stole jewelry of a significant value. In that crime, one of the suspects was shot in the leg by police, and then arrested, and subsequently convicted. Two other suspects were also arrested for their involvement in the robbery that occurred in September 2021.

Law enforcement are searching for the subjects involved in the most recent robbery. If you have any information regarding the subjects involved, please contact the Jewelers’ Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.

Footage of the outside of the store was posted to social media and is viewable below.

2 ARRESTED AFTER BURGLARY – PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C.

by Daily Blog

Two men were recently arrested after committing a burglary at a jewelry store on 5/2/23. Deputies from the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina arrested 34-year-old Dreshay Simmons and 32-year-old Tashake Tyrea Mitchum approximately 20 minutes after the crime.

The two suspects, along with a third unidentified subject, are accused of backing a vehicle into the front door of a jewelry store at approximately 2:23 a.m. They then proceeded to steal jewelry from display cases. The third subject is still at large. Simmons and Mitchum were arrested following a traffic stop. None of the jewelry was recovered following their arrests. If you have any information regarding this crime or the third suspect involved, please contact the Jewelers’ Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.

Seal_of_the_United_States_Department_of_Justice.svg

Suspect convicted after committing 3 robberies on the same day

by Arrests

Baltimore, MD – On April 25, 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland issued a press release announcing the conviction of 29-year-old Keith Poynter, who committed three robberies on the same day, where he targeted jewelry in each crime.

The press release is posted verbatim below:

Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
District of Maryland
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Baltimore Man Convicted After a Four-Day Trial for Three Robberies Committed at Gunpoint
Fired the Gun Several Times During One of the Robberies


Baltimore, Maryland �” A federal jury convicted Keith Poynter, Jr., age 29, of Baltimore, Maryland, yesterday on federal charges related to a series of armed commercial robberies, all committed in one day, and for discharging his weapon during one of the robberies.

The conviction was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; and Chief Robert McCullough of the Baltimore County Police Department.

According to court documents and evidence presented during his four-day trial, Poynter conspired with others, including Benjamin Bunn, Jr. and Tiffany Gardner, to rob businesses in Baltimore City and Baltimore County. Specifically, on December 6, 2019, Poynter and another man robbed a jewelry store in the 200 block of N. Howard Street. The evidence showed that the other robber placed a machete in the door to prevent it from locking. Poynter brandished a weapon and struck a glass countertop, causing the gun to fire. Poynter then fired two more shots into another glass case and removed jewelry and other merchandise, all in the presence of store employees. Poynter and the other man then got into a silver Acura TL, which was occupied and operated by Bunn and Gardner and left the area.

According to trial testimony, a short time later, Poynter entered a jewelry store in the Security Square Mall in Baltimore County. Poynter approached a store employee, brandished a handgun and demanded jewelry. After taking the jewelry, Poynter left the store and got back into the silver Acura TL, where Bunn and Gardner waited. The group then left the area. Approximately two hours later, Poynter entered a pawn shop in the 6600 block of Reisterstown Road, brandished a firearm, demanded jewelry and threatened to shoot a customer. Poynter took jewelry and other merchandise and left the store, again entering the silver Acura TL where Bunn and Gardner waited.

Poynter faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the robbery conspiracy, for each count of three counts of commercial robbery and for conspiracy to use a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Poynter faces a mandatory minimum of seven years and up to life in prison for each of two counts of using and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison for discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher has not yet scheduled sentencing for Poynter.

Benjamin Bunn, Jr., age 37, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty to his role in the robberies a few days before trial began and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 13, 2023. Tiffany Gardner, age 27, of Baltimore, also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years in federal prison.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, the Baltimore Police Department and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Sippel, Jr. and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Meehan, who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

Source:

Topic(s):
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Violent Crime
Firearms Offenses
Component(s):
USAO – Maryland

Contact:
Marcia Lubin
(410) 209-4854
Updated April 25, 2023

ATTEMPTED DIAMOND SWITCH – SAN ANGELO, TX

by Daily Blog

On 04/27/2023, at 2:00 p.m., a male subject entered a jewelry store under the pretense of shopping. During his time in the store, he attempted to get the team member working with him to pull out multiple items. The subject gained possession of a princess-cut diamond ring and pretended to try it on. The subject then gave a counterfeit diamond ring back to the team member who immediately called him out asking for her ring back. The subject gave a few excuses, returned the ring, and then left the store shortly after. The subject was described as a 5’5″ Hispanic male in his late 20’s to early 30’s. He has scruffy facial hair. He was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, basketball shorts, and a baseball cap. If you have any information regarding this subject, please contact the Jewelers’ Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328