Police are investigating a string of jewelry store robberies over the past few weeks in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
June 29, Jackson, NJ
The first robbery happened on June 29 at the Zales jewelry store in the Jackson Premium Outlet Mall in Jackson, NJ.
Police say that two suspects entered the store around 8:36 p.m. and asked the store’s two employees if they could view engagement rings.
One suspect then allegedly pulled out a handgun and told the employees to remove jewelry from the display cases. After taking the jewelry, police say the suspects forced the employees into a storage room where they were told to wait. The two suspects then fled the area with an estimated $200,000 worth of merchandise.
The first suspect is described as a black man standing 6-feet tall and weighing 175 pounds with facial hair on his chin. He was last seen wearing a white polo shirt with dark blue horizontal stripes, jeans, dark sneakers with a white emblem, a fitted hat and sunglasses.
The second suspect is described as a black female standing 5-foot-5 weighing 135 to 140 pounds with long, dark hair. She was last seen wearing an over-sized floppy hat, gray shirt over a tank top, dark, Capri-styled pants and carrying a multi-colored bag.
Anyone with information on this incident should call Detective Frank Mendez at 732-833-3009 or Detective Robert Reiff at 732-833-3018.
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You can view surveillance video of the robbery here:
July 11, New Holland, Pa
On Monday, July 11, police say that two men armed with pistols entered Von Gehr’s Jewelry Store in New Holland around 11 a.m.
The men allegedly tied up the store employee and forced him to lie on the ground. While the employee was unharmed, police say that the two men escaped with an undisclosed amount of jewelry.
If you have any information on this incident, please contact the Lancaster Police.
July 12, Philadelphia
On Tuesday, July 12, police say that two men entered the Zales Outlet store at the Philadelphia Premium Outlet Mall around 8:27 p.m. Like the suspects in the June 29 robbery, the first man allegedly asked the store employees if he could see the store’s engagement rings.
Police say that a second man entered the store and asked to see a tennis bracelet. He then allegedly pulled out a black handgun and forced the two store employees to fill trash bags with jewelry. Police say they then forced the employees inside a backroom and left the store.
The first suspect is described as a thin black man with a possible goatee or beard. He was last seen wearing a green Phillies cap, jeans, a green/white striped Polo shirt and possibly glasses.
The second suspect is described as a black man with a long beard and thin build. He was last seen wearing a red Phillies cap, Nike tee shirt, shorts and Aviator glasses.
Investigators say that the two men escaped with a large amount of engagement rings. Police also say that the incident is similar to a robbery at a Kay Jewelers store in Cherry Hill back on March 23. If you have any information on this incident, please call Detective Ernie M. Morris at 610-495-7909 ext. 222.
July 13, King of Prussia, Pa
The most recent jewelry store robbery occurred on Wednesday at the King of Prussia Plaza. Police say that around 8:48 p.m., three men entered the Tourneau watch store on the lower level of the mall. Police say that one man ordered all the customers and employees on the ground while two other men approached the display counter.
“Two of those men went into what we determined to be the most expensive display case and smashed that out and removed 18 Rolex watches from that display case,” said Sergeant Jeffrey Maurer of the Upper Merion Police.
The men then escaped though they were caught on surveillance video.
Police say that the stolen watches were worth around $576,700. One man is described as a bearded black male wearing a green hat with an orange brim, a light blue long sleeved dress shirt, tan pants and a tie. The second suspect is described as a black male wearing a white hat. The third suspect is described as a black male wearing a black hat.
Its unknown whether the four robberies are related in anyway. Police continue to investigate. There are reports that the FBI may become involved in the investigation though this is unconfirmed at this time.
