FBI Joins Investigation of Rolex Watch Heist at Casino

Brazen smash-and-grab happened in middle of Atlantic City casino resort

The FBI has joined the investigation into last week's jewelry heist at an Atlantic City casino.

On July 1, three men walked into the Borgata casino and walked out with nearly $200,000. But, the money wasn't won, rather it was stolen in the form of high-end watches from a jewelry store inside the gambling resort.

Investigators say three men stole Rolex watches worth just under $200,000 from the "Jewels" store around 8:45 p.m.

Police originally valued the jewelry at $500,000, but corrected the amount a day after the heist.

The theft was a smash-and-grab where the men broke the cases, grabbed what they could and left as quickly as possible, according to investigators.

Police say one suspect was dressed in a blue jacket, one in a gray hooded sweatshirt and one in a dark-colored jacket. The suspects fled on foot before entering a dark-colored vehicle, according to police.

No one was injured during the incident. Police reviewed surveillance video and released photos of the three men who pulled off the heist. A fourth person -- believed to be the getaway driver -- is also wanted.

On Tuesday, officials announced that the FBI had joined the investigation and that they believed they were a step closer to tracking down the culprits.

"The people that are doing the active investigation have a good idea of the background of some of the people that are involved," Commander Thomas Gilbert of the A.C. Tourism District said.

Police are exploring the possibility that the culprits are part of an organized group or copy cats of such a ring. Gilbert says the "transient nature" of some of the suspects prompted the FBI's involvement.

"They bring extra tools and skill sits," he said. "Jurisdictional boundaries get eliminated somewhat when the FBI gets involved."

The Borgata opened July 2, 2003. At the time it was the first new casino in the resort town in 13 years. It has various restaurants, 11 retail shops, 2,000 guest rooms and suites, nearly 200 gambling tables and more than 3,400 slot machines.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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