Wisconsin

West Allis, WI- pawn shop jewelry theft; 2 men from out of state ARRESTED!

by ArrestsCrime NewsCrime SuspectsCrimesDaily Blogdistraction theft

West Allis, WI- More than $30,000 worth of jewelry was stolen from a West Allis pawn shop.
Two men – one from New York, the other from Washington – are charged with theft.
Court filings said the investigation involved authorities in Illinois and Indiana. Now, two men from opposite ends of the country are charged with theft in Milwaukee County.

Court records identified 23-year-old Procoror Muntean and 26-year-old Retan Varga. Muntean is from Queens Village, New York. Varga is from Kent, Washington. Both men are yet to appear in court on the charges.

West Allis police were called to Pawn America, at 76th and Lincoln, on Feb. 10. According to a criminal complaint, an employee told police that two men came in and asked to see some items from the jewelry case.

Prosecutors said those men, since identified as Muntean and Varga, took several items to the cash registers where one of them asked about some shoes. When the employee went over to the shoes, the men said they needed to get $10,000 to buy the jewelry and then left the store.

Approximately 15 minutes later, court filings said the employee noticed the jewelry he showed the men was missing. The items totaled more than $30,000.

The day after the theft, court filings said a detective from Illinois contacted West Allis police to say one of the Pawn America theft suspects had stolen a watch worth $50,000 from a store there. Investigators then learned Muntean and Varga had been stopped in Indiana, where Muntean was taken into custody for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. In custody there, he admitted to stealing the watch in Illinois.

West Allis police reviewed photos of Muntean and Varga provided by authorities in Illinois. Comparing those photos to surveillance video from Pawn America, the complaint states detectives identified the suspects as Muntean and Varga. Pursuant to a search warrant, Indiana State Police searched the vehicle and found multiple pieces of jewelry believed to have been stolen from Pawn America.

Court filings also noted that a Shorewood police detective contacted West Allis police on Feb. 12. The detective said Muntean and Varga were in a separate Feb. 10 theft in which an $8,000 bracelet was stolen from a jeweler. At this time, the men are not charged with theft from that jewelry.

Article provided by Fox 6 News, click here to view article.

Handcuffs

San Carlos, CA- : 18-year-old arrested in $56,000 jewelry store robbery.

by Armed RobberyArrestsCrime SuspectsCrimes

San Carlos, California – An 18-year-old suspected of stealing $56,000 in jewelry from a San Carlos store in September 2024, along with two other people, was arrested this week.

The San Mateo County Sheriff’s office arrested the Oakland resident on Tuesday, according to a Friday news release. He was booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility on robbery, burglary and grand theft charges. The office is continuing to identify and locate two others involved in the theft.

On Sept. 25, 2024, San Mateo County Sheriff’s deputies assigned to the San Carlos Police Bureau responded to the report of a robbery at the Home Consignment Center located in the 1100 block of Industrial Road in San Carlos.

Three suspects smashed the door into the business, which was open at the time, and ran to the jewelry department. The suspects then used hammers to break jewelry cases, stealing approximately $56,000 in jewelry before fleeing the area, according to the release.

Following a months-long investigation from the sheriff’s office, that included assistance from the Milpitas Police Department regarding a similar case, officers identified the suspect. Investigators obtained a search warrant that led to the identification of evidence linking the man to the robbery, according to the release.

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

Article provided by Stephanie Lam of Bay Area News Group. Click here to view article.

texas

Harris County, TX- 4 ARRESTED in connection with a string of smash-and-grab robberies at several NW Harris County jewelry stores

by Armed RobberyArrestsCrime SuspectsCrimesDaily BlogSmash and Grab

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — Four people have been arrested and charged in connection with a string of smash-and-grab robberies, according to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

The robberies occurred in November and December 2024 at several jewelry stores in northwest Harris County. Gonzalez said thousands of dollars worth of jewelry were stolen during these robberies. The suspects also allegedly caused thousands of dollars in damage.

The suspects, Dexter Mitchell, 51, his nephew, Reginald Mitchell, 22, Shonton Howard, 26, and Christian Venson, 25, are also suspected of carrying out similar crimes in other parts of Harris County and the Dallas area, according to Gonzalez.

They’re all charged with engaging in organized criminal activity while using a deadly weapon and aggravated robbery.

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

Article provided by KHOU 11 News- Click HERE to view article.

Handcuffs

Newark, NJ- ARRESTED- Crew broke into N.J. store through ceiling. Member caught with $10K watch arrested, cops say.

by ArrestsBurglaryCrime NewsCrime SuspectsCrimesDaily BlogUncategorized

Newark, NJ– A member of a South American theft group was charged with federal crimes after he was caught with a wristwatch that he allegedly stole from an Essex County mall last year, investigators announced Tuesday.

Gustavo Ignacio Salas Ortega, 33, of Chile, and the group scouted the unidentified jewelry store that was located at a mall “in or around Millburn,” before committing the burglary, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New Jersey.

He and the others entered the store through the ceiling and a hole they cut through an adjacent wall to steal multiple pieces of jewelry, the office said.

When police officers arrived at the business on Oct. 5, they reviewed surveillance footage which showed five people wearing masks, gloves, and some wearing reflective vests near the store while carrying bags and a collapsible ladder, according to a criminal complaint.

Further review of the footage showed some of the men, including Salas Ortega, surveilling and scouting the location of the store on both the day of and the day before the burglary, the complaint stated. He was not wearing a mask and his face was visible in the footage.

On Oct. 14, police, including members of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, detained Salas Ortega in Rochelle Park. They recovered the wristwatch, which he had also been seen wearing in ATM surveillance footage in New York a few days earlier, authorities said.

Detectives determined that the watch, which had been purchased for $10,800, was at the jewelry store for maintenance work, according tot he complaint.

Salas Ortega was charged with one count of conspiracy to receive stolen property that had crossed state lines and one count of receiving stolen property that had crossed state lines, the office said.

“The Joint Organized Crime Task Force has been working tirelessly to apprehend these alleged criminals, following a labyrinth of conspirators that span multiple states,” FBI-Newark Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly said in a statement. “These alleged criminals are part of South American theft groups who have been targeting stores throughout the United States for months.”

Salas Ortega was detained Tuesday after his appearance in federal court in Newark, officials said

Article provided by NJ.com, click here to view.

Greece NY

Greece, NY- Three people arrested following smash-and-grab robbery at Greece Ridge mall jewelry store

by ArrestsCrime NewsCrime SuspectsCrime VideosCrimesDaily BlogSmash and Grab

Greece, N.Y. — Three people face charges in connection with a jewelry store robbery at The Mall at Greece Ridge last month.

Police said eight suspects entered the mall wearing masks and gloves Jan. 6, with six of them going to Dubai Jewelry while the other two stayed by the vestibule.

The suspects reportedly jumped the store’s counter and used a baseball bat to break the display cases, stealing roughly $90,000 worth of merchandise.

A Wilmorite security officer reportedly confronted the suspects during the incident but was threatened with a baseball bat. Police said another security officer was nearly struck by a bat that one of the suspects threw.

The suspects allegedly fled the scene in a dark Chevrolet Malibu, later found unoccupied on Lang Street in Rochester. Police said detectives identified two vehicles involved in the crime.

SWAT teams from the Greece and Rochester police departments executed a “high-risk” search warrant Wednesday at an address on Remington Street in Rochester, according to Greece police, with New York State Police assisting them with searches of three other locations.

Police said they recovered “significant physical evidence” during the searches and arrested three people.

Michael Ruiz, 28, Jahrusalem Smith, 30, and Destiny Allen, 41, all of Rochester, were each charged with robbery, grand larceny and criminal mischief.

Article provided by 13 ABC News- Click HERE to view article and video news release

If you have any information regarding this incident or information on these suspects or other being sought, please contact the Jewelers’ Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.

AZ7

GRAB AND RUN- TEMPE, AZ

by Crime SuspectsCrimesDaily BlogGrab and Run

Tempe, AZ– On February 04, 2025, it was reported that a grab and run incident occurred at THE Arizona Mills mall in Tempe, Arizona. A male subject entered the store where he was provided customer service by an employee. The male was looking at gold display showcases, where he asked and selected to look at a gold and diamond charm and gold chain necklaces. The male selected and stated he was going to purchase a lion black and white diamond charm. The male then selected a gold chain necklace to go with the gold charm. The male then placed the gold charm and gold chain on at the register. The male was on his cell phone, claiming to talk with his mother for money transfer for a credit card account to purchase the items. While on his cell phone, the male quickly fled the store. Mall security and the Tempe Police Department were notified and responded to this incident. No injuries were reported.

Suspect(s) Description: Male, mid 20’s, Hispanic, 5’8, 230-250lbs, black hair and beard, tan Aeropostale shirt, tan pants, grey/black/white Nike shoes

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

phoenix

Phoenix, AZ- ARRESTED: Two individuals stole $125,000 worth of jewelry from Valley stores, police said

by ArrestsCrime SuspectsCrimesDaily Blog

PHOENIX, AZ — Two people who police said stole $125,000 worth of jewelry from multiple Valley stores in the span of three days have been arrested, according to officials with the Phoenix Police Department.

The suspects were arrested in the parking lot of a store after stealing a $10,000 necklace, police said. A video posted by Phoenix police, click here to view video/aerticle provided by 12 News, shows the two suspects being shown jewelry, grabbing it, and running away at several different jewelry stores. Officials said they were able to identify the men and link them to a retail theft string.

The suspects have not been identified.

Illinois3

LINCOLNWOOD, Ill- Masked burglars commit smash-and-grab at north suburban jewelry store with customers inside.

by Crime NewsCrime SuspectsDaily BlogSmash and Grab

LINCOLNWOOD, Ill. — Three masked suspects smashed the front window of a north suburban jewelry store while customers were inside Saturday and stole an undisclosed amount of jewelry.

According to police, officers arrived at Baladna Jewelry in Lincolnwood, located in the 4300 block of Touhy Avenue, around 4:45 p.m. for a smash-and-grab burglary.

Police say, according to initial reports, the suspects arrived in a black pickup truck, which was observed parking in front of the store. The suspects then proceeded to smash the front windows and force their way inside, where they broke open display cases and filled bags with various pieces of jewelry.

According to police, several customers were inside the store at the time of the robbery, but no physical threats or injuries were reported. After committing the theft, the suspects fled westbound on Touhy Ave. in the black pickup truck.

Lincolnwood detectives were gathering information and evidence, including surveillance footage from nearby businesses and witness statements, after the incident.

The suspects were described as male and wearing all-black clothing, ski masks and gloves. No further details about the suspects’ identities or the stolen items were immediately available.

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

KC

Kansas City, MO- Armed robbery of North KC business leads to charges for 2

by ArrestsCrime NewsCrime SuspectsCrimesDaily Blog

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two men have been arrested and charged after the armed robbery of a North Kansas City jewelry business over the weekend.

Jackson County, Missouri, Circuit Court records filed on Sunday, Dec. 12, indicate that Terrance M. Johnson Sr., 43, and Ana Loh, 21, of Kansas City, have been charged in connection to the robbery of a local-owned jewelry store.

A probable cause statement filed by the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department revealed that around 1:25 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11, emergency crews were called to a family-owned jewelry store in North Kansas City that doubled as the owners’ home.

Investigators said they found Johnson and Loh entered the business with a third unidentified suspect. The three proceeded to threaten a cashier as Johnson pointed a gun at him and took the jewelry out of the case by the register after he demanded the cash from the register.

The victims reported that one of the suspects made their way upstairs where a second victim was held at gunpoint as the location of the safe was demanded. Loh allegedly threatened to kill both victims as well as their family members.

Law enforcement officials noted that the incident was cut short when a customer interrupted and the three suspects ran off – but not before they stole the wallets, phones and keys of the victims.

Detectives said they were able to ping one of the victims’ phones to a location in North Kansas City where Johnson and Loh were found in the passenger seats of a vehicle that had been stolen from the victims.

Investigators indicated that when Johnson exited the vehicle, he attempted to run away but was quickly brought down. Loh was taken into custody without incident. Officers found jewelry from the store along the path he took.

Johnson and Loh admitted to law enforcement officials that they had been involved in the robbery. Johnson was charged with robbery in the first degree and could face up to 30 years behind bars. Loh was charged with 2 counts of robbery and a single count of burglary. If convicted, he could face up to 75 years in prison.

A bond review hearing has been set for Johnson and Loh at 10 a.m. on Jan. 21 with a preliminary hearing expected around 2 p.m. on Feb. 11.

As of Jan. 15, Loh remains behind bars on a $50,000 bond. Johnson remains jailed on a $75,000 bond. No further information has been released.

Article provided by Sarah Motter of KCTV News.

violent

Los Angelas, CA- $100K in jewelry stolen in Violent Kidnapping, Robbery in Southern California

by Armed RobberyCrime SuspectsCrimesDaily Blog

LOS ANGELAS (KTLA) – Two men are wanted in connection with a violent robbery in Los Angeles County, in which a victim was held at gunpoint and tens of thousands of dollars in jewelry was stolen, officials announced Thursday.

The terrifying incident unfolded on Jan. 11 at around 10:15 a.m. in the 7600 block of Firestone Boulevard in Downey, according to a news release from investigators with the Downey Police Department.

The two suspects, police said, entered Gold Dream Fine Jewelry and asked to see some merchandise, but as the sales associate was tending to them, one of the suspects tackled and gagged the associate, brandished a firearm and forced them into a backstock room while the other suspect ransacked the store.

In photos released by investigators, one of the suspects can be seen holding a handgun to the head of the victim as they are on the ground with their hands up.

Authorities said the duo was able to get away with gold, jewelry and watches worth more than $100,000.

Detectives believe the two suspects may be of Central or South American descent and should be considered armed and dangerous.

Article provided by KTLA 5, click here for view of article.

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