TWO ROBBERS IN 05/13/10 JSA EMAIL CRIME ALERT ARRESTED
Lower Pottsgrove, PA - July 19, 2010
Two suspects in a May 13, 2010 armed robbery of a retail jewelry store were arrested following a police investigation. The crime was featured in a May 18, 2010 JSA Email Crime Alert. One suspect, a 27-year-old from Lower Pottsgrove, was arrested after a return flights from Florida, and charged with felony robbery, possession of a firearm, theft by unlawful taking and other charges. The investigation and video surveillance footage revealed that two suspects had cased the store two days before the robbery. The second suspect was arrested on July 2, 2010 in Norristown, PA.

SUSPECT ARRESTED IN 2008 CONNECTICUT ROBBERY
Washington, DC - August 13, 2010
A suspect in a 07/02/08 robbery of a retail jewelry store in Madison, CT was arrested by police in Washington, D.C. on August 13, 2010. The suspect, 44, from Hartford, CT, was stopped in a routine traffic stop by Washington Metro Police and arrested on a warrant in the Madison incident. The suspect had been identified by the Madison Police after a lengthy investigation before their warrant was obtained. The suspect waived extradition and was transported to CT by Madison police. The suspect faces charges of robbery in the 1st degree, assault in the 2nd degree with a firearm, kidnapping, larceny and other charges. The suspect was being held on $500,000 bail. Police reported that they are seeking to arrest two other suspects in the case, both of whom are already incarcerated on other charges.

MAN WITH GUN ROBS RETAIL JEWELRY STORE
Rockville, MD – August 11, 2010
A male described as Middle Eastern entered a retail jewelry store, displayed a gun and demanded jewelry. The store employees emptied the showcases and the robber left with jewelry trays under his arm. He is described as 30-40 years old, 5’10”-6’1”, 180-220 lbs. He had brown eyes and black hair, which may have been a wig, and a mustache. He fled in black four-door vehicle with Pennsylvania plates.
COMMENT: The store employees cooperated, the robber left in less than two minutes, and no one was hurt.

SUSPECT SPILLS COFFEE, TRIES TO SWITCH RING
Westminster, CO – August 3, 2010
A suspect asked to look at a three stone diamond ring in a retail jewelry chain store. The suspect had been in the store on multiple occasions looking at the same ring. While looking at the ring, the suspect spilled coffee on the counter and switched the tag from the real ring onto a counterfeit piece of merchandise. The fake was then handed back to the sales associate, who asked the suspect for the real merchandise to be returned. The suspect then ran from the store. The suspect is described as a white male, 25 years old, 6’, 175 lbs., wearing a white tee shirt, khaki shorts, tennis shoes and white baseball cap with black print.
RECOMMENDATION: Switch artists and other types of thieves will use an endless variety of methods to try to create confusion and to distract sales associates. In this instance the spilling of coffee didn’t work. Unusual incidents causing confusion should put a sales associate on high alert, and may require additional sales help or security assistance to be called upon.

TWO DIFFERENT ROBBERIES OF RETAIL SALES ASSOCIATES OUTSIDE THEIR STORES
Colonial Heights, VA – August 16, 2010
Just before 9:00 p.m. an employee of a retail jewelry store inside a mall was closing the store and was leaving with a backpack containing gold scrap. A robber approached, hit the employee several times, and took the backpack. The robber fled on foot and entered a gold-colored Pontiac Grand Am. The robber was a black male, 5’9”, 140 lbs.

Newman, CA – August 7, 2010
An employee of a retail jewelry store was robbed of cash on a Saturday morning after 10:00 a.m. while walking from a nearby bank to the store with money for the day’s business operations. A robber armed with a handgun stepped from behind a car parked in the street and confronted the female employee, demanding the money. The suspect was described as an Hispanic male who was seen jumping into a waiting green van.
RECOMMENDATION: Jewelry store employees are at risk not only during the day inside the store, but also going to the store and leaving the store. Employees need to keep a close eye on their surroundings at all times. The times of trips to the bank should be varied, and different employees and routes should be used. When closing the store, the entire area outside the store should be surveyed carefully before exiting. Product should not be taken from the store at closing, especially alone and at night, unless absolutely necessary. It is best to send ahead a second employee who will watch and warn the person who is locking up if there are any suspicious persons in the vicinity.

JEWELER SHOT AND KILLED FLEEING FROM ROBBERS
West Palm Beach, FL – July 26, 2010
At 8:30 a.m. a jewelry store owner was ambushed as he arrived at his store. It is reported that after a confrontation inside the store, the jeweler attempted to run across the street away from the armed suspects when he was fatally shot in the back and arm. The suspects escaped in a dark green van.
RECOMMENDATION: When confronted by armed robbers, the safest course is to cooperate and not to resist or flee. Robbers armed with guns will not hesitate to use deadly force if there is and hesitation or resistance.