Bakersfield, CA – On May 1, 2024, a jewelry store reported the subject featured above was shown multiple bracelets. The subject then showed a stack of money and continued to ask to see bracelets. At one point when multiple bracelets were being shown, the subject hid one bracelet in the hand he’s holding the stack of bills in, while he requested an additional item to be shown.
The employee eventually left the area to check on a price for the subject on the computer, and when the employee’s back was turned the subject concealed the bracelet in his left pant pocket. The subject then exited the store shortly thereafter.
Subject Description: Male, Hispanic, early 40’s, approximately 185 lbs. He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, blue jeans, and 3 gold teeth on the right. If you have any information regarding this subject, please contact the Jewelers Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.
New York, NY – On May 3, 2024, 49-year-old Yaorong Wan was arrested and charged with grand larceny for his involvement in jewelry store thefts in Manhattan.
Wan had been wanted and suspected of committing a series of thefts, including crimes that had taken place in South Korea, Miami, Florida, Beverly Hills, California, New York, and East Rutherford, New Jersey. Wan was wanted by INTERPOL, the international criminal police, for his involvement in a theft in South Korea.
On March 4, 2024, Wan allegedly entered a high-end jewelry store in Midtown Manhattan, NY where he asked the store’s employee to see an engraved platinum ring, before he eventually left cubic zirconia mounted in an 18-carat white gold ring in its place.
The store did not discover the theft until a week later after reviewing camera footage, which allegedly showed Wan conceal the real ring in his palm during the theft.
On March 12, 2024, Wan allegedly committed another theft at a jewelry store in Manhattan where he stole a ring. A similar crime also took place on April 19, 2024 at a high-end jewelry store in Long Island, NY. Watch the videos below to learn more about the extent of Wan’s crimes.
JSA commends the Nassau County Police Department and the New York Police Department’s Major Case Squad for their efforts in bringing this suspect to justice.
Naples, Florida – According to Fox 4 Naples, on May 3, 2024, a jewelry store’s staff were busy helping customers in the afternoon, when a woman allegedly grabbed an ounce of gold and stuck it in her pocket. The subjects who were involved in this theft are pictured below
To view a Fox 4 Naples article and video, click here.
The Jewelers Security Alliance suspects the couple is involved in numerous distraction thefts in multiple states. Jewelers should be alert to their efforts. If you have any information regarding the identities of these subjects, please contact the Jewelers Security Alliance at 212-687-0328.
Las Vegas, NV – On April 23, 2024, – An unknown male entered a jewelry store and inquired on an item the location did not carry in the store. After browsing the store for a little while the subject requested to view a diamond ring valued at $1,500. As the subject continued to hold it, he requested to view another item, yet was notified he had to return the ring in order to see something else.� At that moment, the subject stood up and exited the location with the ring on his person.�
The subject depicted above is described as a black male, late-20’s to early-30’s, approximately 5’1†�” 5’2â€Â, thin build, black hair, black goatee, both ears pierced, gold chain, wearing a black vest, red t-shirt, acid-washed blue jeans, black shoes
If you have any information regarding this subject’s identity, please contact the Jewelers Security Alliance at 212-687-0328.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – On the April 21, 2024, at approximately 5:32 pm, a jewelry store experienced a theft of men’s bracelets via a distraction theft. The subjects wanted to look at men’s bracelets and were able to convince the employee to bring out a display unit featuring multiple items. Both individuals were talkative and took turns distracting the employee with conversation and many gestures while explaining what item they were looking for. While standing in a group, one fraudster had the employee’s attention, the other fraudster removed the bracelets from the display units and ultimately pocketed the items, unseen by the employee.
If you have any information regarding these subjects, please contact JSA at 212-687-0328
Hoover, AL– On April 29, 2024, a grab and run theft occurred at a jewelry store. A lone male entered the store under the pretense of shopping for a diamond tennis bracelet. He was very adamant that he needed at least a 5ct diamond bracelet to match a diamond necklace. The subject had been at another store earlier asking to see the same item, but it was not available. During the time in the store, he looked at a few options before leaving the store to make phone calls.
He returned to the store a short time later and claimed that he wanted to purchase the diamond bracelet. At approximately 1:20 p.m., while at the register, the subject grabbed the diamond bracelet off the counter and fled into the mall. He was observed running Southbound through the parking deck and into the parking lot area. No injuries were reported. A theft report was filed with Hoover, Alabama Police Department.
The subject depicted above was described as a black male, early 30’s, tall, thin build, medium complexion, light beard, tattoo under left ear on neck. Wearing a dark blue cap, blue blazer, blue/grey button-down shirt, pinstripe blue pants and dark dress shoes.
If you have any information regarding this subject’s identity, please contact the Jewelers Security Alliance at 212-687-0328.
St. George, Utah – April 29, 2024 – A theft at a jewelry store brought police officers to a shopping center shopping center on Monday evening, after a man fled the area with diamonds in hand in a grab and run theft.
If you have any information regarding this subject’s identity, please contact the Jewelers Security Alliance at 212-687-0328.
Click here to view an article written by Mori Kessler and to view a video.
OAKLAND, CA �” April 30, 2024 – A federal grand jury has handed down a superseding indictment alleging Jakari Jenkins, Demarco Barnett, Garland Rabon, and Keanna Smith-Stewart conspired with each other, and other members of an Oakland-based street gang, to rob several San Francisco Bay Area businesses, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBIâ€Â) Special Agent in Charge Robert K Tripp. The superseding indictment, filed April 18, 2024, was unsealed last Friday at an initial appearance by defendant Rabon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore. The final defendant to appear in court, Ms. Smith-Stewart, made her initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Westmore earlier today.
The superseding indictment alleges that by March of 2022, the four defendants were all members of, or had association with, an Oakland-based street gang called the Ghost Town gang. The indictment describes a series of armed robberies and burglaries that were committed by groups of co-conspirators.
The first robbery described in the superseding indictment involved Barnett and Jenkins, who along with other members of the gang carried out the armed robbery of a coin and stamp store located on the 10th floor of a building in the South of Market neighborhood of San Francisco. As part of the plan, members of the conspiracy allegedly rented a car to be used as a getaway car. In addition, members of the conspiracy stole a license plate to be used on the getaway car and met additional members of the conspiracy at the Oakland residence of another gang member. On March 18, 2022, the day of the robbery, Barnett, Jenkins, and at least two additional unnamed co-conspirators entered the store, brandished firearms, and demanded money from the business and the two individuals who happened to be present at the time�” the owner and his son. The robbers struck the head and zip-tied the hands of the owner’s son, and absconded with cash, jewelry, and coins having an aggregate value of more than $300,000.
The second armed robbery described in the superseding indictment occurred approximately eight months later. As a prelude to the second robbery, members of the conspiracy pretended to be customers of a jewelry store in San Pablo. The pretend customers left jewelry with the operators of the store. According to the indictment, Jenkins, Barnett, and Rabon arrived at the jewelry store on November 12, 2022, with at least four other co-conspirators and robbed the store of jewelry, including the jewelry that members of the gang previously had left with the store. The robbers arrived in two getaway cars�”both Dodge Chargers bearing stolen license plates. Five co-conspirators, at least three of whom were brandishing firearms, entered the store while two of the co-conspirators waited outside in the getaway cars. The co-conspirators stole bags of jewelry valued at approximately $300,000 to $500,000. The indictment describes how all four defendants in the superseding indictment later wore the stolen jewelry, shared the stolen jewelry with other members of Ghost Town gang members, or otherwise made use of the stolen jewelry for their personal purposes.
The superseding indictment also describes the November 24, 2022, burglary of an Audi dealership in Oakland. Specifically, the indictment describes how days before the robbery, Smith-Stewart allegedly purchased a black Audi S5 from the dealership using a fake driver’s license and another person’s social security number. After providing a down payment of approximately $9,500 toward the purchase of the car, Jenkins, Barnett, and another unindicted co-conspirator burglarized the dealership and stole the safe containing the down payment that Smith-Stewart previously had submitted.
Finally, the superseding indictment describes the Christmas Eve, 2022, armed robbery of a marijuana business in Oakland and one of its employees. The superseding indictment describes how the worker was leaving the business when Jenkins, Barnett, Rabon, and Smith-Stewart, along with at least four other co-conspirators, arrived at the marijuana business in two getaway cars. The robbers brandished weapons, directed the worker back into the building, and demanded “budded weed†and “money.†One of the robbers struck the worker in the head with a firearm. The robbers searched through the worker’s pockets and stole his bank debit card. The robbers absconded with the victim’s debit card and a bag of marijuana plant trimmings. The superseding indictment describes how on December 26, 2022, Smith-Stewart allegedly used the victim’s debit card at Westfield Mall in San Francisco to purchase more than $1,000 worth of items at Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom.
In sum, the defendants are charged with the following crimes:
Defendant
Charge
Maximum Statutory Sentence, If Convicted
ALL DEFENDANTS(one count each)
18 U.S.C. § 1951(a) Conspiracy to Engage in Robbery Affecting Interstate Commerce(Hobbs Act Robbery)
– Imprisonment: 20 years– Fine: $250,000– Supervised Release: 3 years– Special Assessment: $100 per count– Forfeiture– Restitution
In addition, as part of any sentence, the court may order additional fines; restitution, if appropriate; and an additional term of supervised release to begin after any prison. Nevertheless, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Defendants Jenkins and Barnett are in custody and are scheduled to make the next appearance before the Honorable U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin on July 15, 2024, in Oakland. Defendants Rabon and Smith-Stewart are in custody and scheduled to appear before Chief Magistrate Judge Ryu on May 1, 2024.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Harding and Jonathan Lee, with the assistance of Yenni Weinberg and Erick Machado. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, with assistance from the police departments of Oakland, San Francisco, and San Pablo.
Salt Lake City, Utah �” April 24, 2024 – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment today charging a Salt Lake County man with multiple violent crimes after he allegedly stole from a dollar store and a jewelry business while armed.�
According to court documents, on May 6, 2023, Carlos Anthony Martinez, 24, of Salt Lake City, robbed, at gunpoint, a dollar store employee in Grantsville, Utah, of money and merchandise.
On May 26, 2023, Martinez allegedly entered a jewelry store inside Smith’s Marketplace in Bountiful. Martinez carried a hatchet in one hand and a handgun in the other and smashed the top of a glass display case with the hatchet. At this time, an employee confronted Martinez and Martinez pointed the handgun in the employee’s direction. Martinez stole jewelry and ran out of the store, leaving the hatchet on the display case. Bountiful Police officers responded to the scene and searched for Martinez. Martinez was arrested April 15, 2024, following a signed arrest warrant by the court.�
Martinez is charged with interference with commerce by robbery, and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. His initial court appearance on the indictment is April 26, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. in courtroom 8.4. before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated jointly by an FBI Task Force Officer with the Salt Lake City Police department, investigators from the Department of Public Safety State Bureau of Investigation, and other officers from the Utah Highway Patrol and Bountiful Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Carlos A. Esqueda of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
Press release provided by USAO in Salt Lake City, Utah.
This press release was redacted to remove the name of the jewelry store. Click here to read the unredacted press release.
LANGLEY PARK, MD – April 19, 2024 – Detectives continue to search for an armed robbery suspect who they say stole approximately $80,000 worth of jewelry from a business.
Prince George’s Police were called to the store April 3 for a report of a robbery. A cash reward is available for anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest and conviction, according to the police department. Call (301) 516-9777 with information.
Article provided by Kristin Danley-Greiner, Patch Staff. The article has been redacted to remove the location of the business. The article can be found here.
