pooler

POOLER, GA- GRAB AND RUN

by Crime SuspectsCrimesDaily BlogGrab and Run

Pooler, GA– On February 14, 2025, at the Tanger Outlets, a grab and run theft was reported at a jewelry store. A lone male entered the location and stated he wanted to look at a cross chain. A employee assisted the male and removed the item from the showcase. Once the male gained possession of the item, he attempted to put it around his neck. The employee tried to get the item back, but the male moved away and nodded his head. The male looked at himself in the mirror and said, “I’ll get this”. Then the male stated, ” let me get my money” and proceeded to walk away towards the front door. Once the male got to the door, he ran from the location. A police report was filed.

The Jewelers Security Alliance is tracking the suspect may be the same suspect that committed a grab and run theft in North Charleston, South Carolina on February 12th.

Suspect(s) Description:  Male, Black, 5’05”, slender build, wearing glasses, blind from his right eye, eye was cloudy / white, twist-braids his hair was black hair that is graying.

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.

charlotte

Charlotte, NC- Suspect used sledgehammer to smash display case at SouthPark Mall, CMPD says

by Crime SuspectsCrimesDaily BlogSmash and Grab

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Detectives are asking for the public’s help identifying a man who used a sledgehammer to smash a Rolex case and steal multiple watches from SouthPark Mall last month.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police shared multiple surveillance photos of a man they say pulled off the heist on Dec. 27. The man is seen inside an unidentified jewelry store.

He was last seen wearing a New York Yankees baseball hat, a gray and black windbreaker and jeans. The incident happened around 8 p.m. on Dec. 27 at SouthPark Mall. Investigators say multiple watches were taken from the display case.

To view the article provided by WCNC News-Charlotte, Click here.

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.

monterey

Monterey, CA- Caught on Camera: Monterey jeweler loses $20,000 in Valentine’s Day theft.

by Crime NewsCrime SuspectsCrimesDaily Blogdistraction theft

MONTEREY, Calif. – The owner of a jewelry store in downtown Monterey says he lost $20,000 after a pair stole from him on Valentine’s Day without him even knowing.

“It’s a kind of day you’re thinking about romance and love and business, good business because it’s Valentine’s Day. And you don’t expect something like this,” said Steve Saunders, owner if Steve Saunders Master Jeweler.

Saunders shows the moments it all supposedly went down on surveillance video, pointing out two people as the thieves.

“Ding! Hello! Hello!” the video captures the man and woman entering the store.

The video shows the pair asking for multiple high-priced items, and Saunders is seen running around to pull out jewelry.

“My problem is I was so excited about making a big sale that’s all I could think about,” Saunders said.

The pair asked Saunders to put the merchandise in a jewelry box and wrap it in a plastic bag, which he did.

The customers put down a $200 deposit before leaving to go to the bank to withdraw more.

“How could something like that happen?” asked reporter Christian Balderas.

“Sleight of hand,” Saunders replied.

Saunders put the jewelry box and the bag in the safe, but the couple never returned, leading Saunders to believe something was wrong.

“I went to look in the safe and as soon as I picked up the white bag, my heart sank because I could tell immediately now that I’m paying attention that the box was empty,” Saunders said.

The Monterey Police Department says they are investigating.

“What would you say to them if they’re watching?” asked Balderas.

“I’m going to find you,” Saunders said.

The store owner, Steve Saunders, says he is offering a reward of $1,000 for any information that leads to their arrest.

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.

west Hartford

West Hartford, CT- Police investigate jewel burglary in West Hartford

by BurglaryCrime NewsDaily Blog

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Police are investigating an early Sunday morning burglary at a jewelry store in West Hartford.

Officers were dispatched at 3:25 a.m. to Lux Bond and Green at 46 LaSalle Rd. They arrived to find the front and interior door had been smashed open.

Police confirmed that at least one suspect had entered the business. A display case was damaged and multiple jewelry items were stolen before the suspect left the building.

The suspect was seen leaving the scene of the burglary in a white Hyundai.

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 WTNH Hartford.

Lombard

DuPage County, Illinois- Two Jewelry Store Burglary Suspects ARRESTED from Ohio Released Pre-Trial by DuPage County Judge After Capture by Lombard Police

by ArrestsBurglaryCrime SuspectsDaily Blog

Lombard, IL– Police officers about 8:56 p.m. Thursday, February 13, 2025, were dispatched to Rogers & Holland Jewelers after receiving information that two individuals, later identified as the defendants, were inside the store approximately two hours after it had closed. Following an investigation into the matter, police discovered that Alls and Butler allegedly used a crowbar to pry open a security gate at the store. Once inside the store, the defendants allegedly stole approximately $137.205.45 worth of merchandise from the display cases. While in the store, Alls noticed a security officer, and yelled “we gotta go!” at which time both offenders fled the scene on foot, ultimately getting into a silver Volvo. Nearby officers located the Volvo at Highland Avenue and Roosevelt Road and observed the license plate was covered by a towel. Officers subsequently conducted a traffic stop and took the defendants into custody without incident. When processing the scene, officers located a crowbar in the backseat of the Volvo. Police also discovered a bag of jewelry allegedly thrown from the defendants’ vehicle near Roosevelt Road and Stewart Avenue, approximately two hundred feet from where the vehicle was initially observed by officers, and about two miles from the Rogers & Holland Jewelers.

“As I have said before, burglary and retail theft are not victimless crimes. Shoppers, employers, employees, business owners and entire communities ultimately bear the cost in the form of higher prices, lost revenue and wages, reduced local economic investment and a lost sense of security. I thank the Lombard Police Department for their work on this case and for their ongoing efforts in keeping our retail establishments safe for employees and patrons. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Sean Kinsella and Michael Pingaj for their work in securing charges against Mr. Alls and Mr. Butler.”

— DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin

“I would like to recognize our patrol officers and detectives for some fantastic professional police work that led to the apprehension of the individuals involved and the recovery of the property stolen in this incident. I would also like to thank DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and his office for their assistance in securing appropriate charges.”

— Lombard Deputy Chief of Police Joe Grage

The next court date for both defendants is scheduled for March 10, 2025, in front of Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh.

Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of a defendants’ guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

— DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office

Article provided by Arlington Cardinal.com, click here to view article.

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.

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.

WASHINGTON

Puyallup, WA- Jewelry kiosk inside Puyallup mall burglarized

by BurglaryCrime NewsCrimesDaily Blog

PUYALLUP, Wash. — A jewelry kiosk inside a Puyallup mall was burglarized. Puyallup police told KIRO 7 News that multiple suspects shot out an entrance of the South Hill Mall Monday around 6:30 a.m.

Joe Bell, a spokesperson for the mall, said the two suspects entered near the movie theater and targeted Banter by the Piercing Pagoda inside the mall. Half of the jewelry cases were completely empty as of Wednesday afternoon, while several were missing glass.

“Concerned, concerned for the safety of the people, and of course the workers,” said Christopher Ramirez, a shopper. We called the company to get more details, but no one answered. However, Bell said the suspects dashed away before police and security arrived.

“These particular perpetrators came and went very fast,” he said. “It is very reminiscent, just the method that they used of similar burglaries we have seen in the Puget Sound area in the past couple of weeks. We’re working really closely with Puyallup police.”

KIRO 7 News asked Bell if the mall had plans to make any updates following the incident. The spokesperson said he couldn’t disclose any details for safety reasons, but said the mall’s top priority is safety. “We pride ourselves on having a very robust security arrangement at the mall, both human and electronic,” he said.

Puyallup detectives declined to share surveillance footage of the suspects, stating they did not want to impact the investigation.

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 KIRO 7 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.