Seven SMASH AND GRAB Robbery BLACK MALE Suspects Attack Jewelry Stores

Seven SMASH AND GRAB Robbery BLACK MALE Suspects Attack Jewelry Stores

SEVEN SMASH AND GRAB ROBBERY SUSPECTS ATTACK JEWELRY STORE

Austin, TX; February 13, 2021

Two of the black male suspects pictured above entered a retail jewelry store at 6:48 p.m. on a Saturday, and shortly thereafter five more black male suspects entered who carried out a smash and grab robbery, and threatened one of the employees.

The suspect with the plaid mask is described as late teens to mid-20s with a medium build, and the other suspect pictured alone was described as mid-20s with a medium to heavy build. If you have information, call the Austin Police Department Robbery tip line at 512-472-TIPS, or contact JSA at 212-687-0328 or jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org.

RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING SMASH AND GRAB ROBBERIES:

1. Do not resist in a smash and grab robbery. In addition to sledgehammers and other dangerous tools, the suspect(s) may be armed with guns.

2. Showcases with burglary-resistant, laminated glass and special frames can withstand many blows with a hammer and can prevent or reduce large losses. JSA has not seen robbers take retaliatory action when laminated glass is used and robbers are unable to enter a showcase or are able to take only a small amount of merchandise from a small hole. Furthermore, robbers frequently cut themselves on small holes and leave behind valuable DNA evidence from blood.

3. Having an audible glass breakage alarm on your showcases can scare smash and grab robbers away, who are trying to remain in a target store for less than a minute.

4. Having buzzers on the door can help to keep out potential robbers.

5. Hiring armed, off-duty police officers in the store is a deterrent to smash and grab robbers.

6. Spreading high end watch and loose diamond merchandise among several showcases, and not concentrated in one showcase, can reduce the amount of the loss in a smash and grab robbery.

7. Surveillance photos from eye-level cameras inside and outside the store provide excellent evidence for police. Ceiling cameras too often capture useless photos of the top of heads or hats.

8. Keeping a log book of suspicious incidents, and putting aside and saving surveillance video of suspicious incidents, can be a great help in subsequent investigations.

9. Sharing information and photos among local jewelers and police, and with JSA, regarding casings and suspects can help prevent crime and assist with investigations.

TWO SUSPECTS CARRY OUT SMASH AND GRAB ROBBERY

Portage, MI; March 4, 2021

The black male suspects pictured above entered a retail jewelry store at 6:22 p.m. and asked about a brand of diamonds, and then walked over to a showcase containing loose diamonds. They each pulled out a small sledge hammer and smashed one of the showcases. They removed the loose diamonds and fled in a rental vehicle determined to be stolen from the Detroit area.

One suspect was in his 20s, described as 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet and with an average build. The other suspect was also in his 20s, 6 feet I inch to 6 feet 2 inches also with an average build. If you have information, contact JSA at 212-687-0328 or jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org.