ATTEMPT TO USE FRAUDULENT CASHIER'S CHECK
New York , NY – March 17, 2008
A male suspect using the name “Daniel” telephoned a retail jeweler and ordered two high-end watches, and then sent a fraudulent cashier's check for $18,702 by overnight mail from a bank, Community Financial, in Plymouth , MI . After he received the cashier's check, the retailer telephoned a number on the check and reached a firm in Toronto , Canada , and spoke with an individual he believes was the suspect. The retailer has also learned from Community Financial that the check used by the suspect is one of many which were stolen, and may have been used to defraud other merchants in the New York area and elsewhere. The retailer did not ship the watches and suffered no loss.

TWO SUSPECTS PICTURED IN “JSA'S MOST WANTED” ARRESTED
Timonium, MD – December 18, 2007
Two suspects who were the subjects of a JSA Wanted Bulletin dated July 5, 2006, and are currently pictured in the “Most Wanted” section JSA's website, were arrested following excellent police work by the State Apprehension Team of the Maryland State Police. Quinton Antoine Garrus, 44, and Dwayne A. Ballard, 48, were arrested as they were leaving a motel. Garrus and Ballard are believed to have committed numerous distraction thefts in retail jewelry stores in New Jersey , Maryland , Virginia , Georgia , Michigan , California , Connecticut , Tennessee and Iowa , and they are wanted in a number of those states. Click to “JSA's Most Wanted” for photos of the suspects and additional details.

FIVE SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN THEFT OF TRAVELING SALESPERSON Arlington Heights, IL
November 28, 2007
At 12:15 p.m. a traveling jewelry salesperson left a retail jewelry store after a sales call and was getting into his car parked across the street. Two male suspects smashed the windshield and the passenger side window of his car in order to grab the salesperson's line. The two suspects got into a getaway car with three other occupants and were driven away. A short time later the getaway car was pulled over by police and the five Hispanic suspects were arrested, including three woman and two men, ranging from 19 to 42-years-old. Excellent police work, including surveillance by the North Regional Major Crime Task Force, composed of personnel from police agencies North of Chicago but in Cook County , brought about this arrest

ARMED ROBBERS HIT RETAIL STORE Colorado Springs, CO December 27, 2007
Three male suspects armed with guns entered a retail jewelry store at 4:25 p.m. They ordered the employees to the floor and smashed open display cases. Police believe that a fourth male could have been in the getaway vehicle, which was a bright green, four-door sedan.

TWO GRAB AND RUNS IN FLORIDA

Melbourne, FL – December 13, 2007
A black male suspect entered a chain retail jewelry store at 6:00 p.m. and asked to see engagement rings. After discussing layaway and his needs, the suspect stated he was going to shop around and left the store. About 30 minutes later the suspect returned and asked to view diamond solitaire rings. After looking at a 1 ct, the male asked to see a 2 ct. When the sales associate removed the 2 ct from the showcase, the suspect grabbed it and fled the store. The suspect is described as early-to-mid-20s, 6'1”, 200 lbs, wearing a red baseball cap and black tee shirt.

Aventura, FL – December 15, 2007
At 10:45 a.m. a white male suspect entered a chain retail jewelry store and asked to see diamond stud earrings. He then asked to look at bridal sets. He told the associate he didn't want to spend over $6,500. The suspect was asked to sit down at a showcase, and once sitting down was shown a ring by two sales associates. When the suspect was handed the ring, he ran from the store. The suspect is described as 5'4”-5'5”, red hair, mid-30s, tattoos on his arms, wearing dark jeans, red shirt and cap.

SMASH AND GRAB BURGLARS STRIKE AGAIN St. Petersburg, FL
December 16, 2007
After 5:00 a.m. six members of a burglary ring that has committed numerous recent three minute burglaries, primarily in FL, cut the metal roll-up door of a retail jeweler with bolt cutters and smashed several showcases. The burglars took jewelry merchandise, most of which was of lower value, that had been left out of the safe overnight. Police believe the gang is composed of black males of Bahamian or Haitian descent. They were pictured on surveillance cameras driving three vehicles: a white 500-700 series BMW, a white Chrysler 300 and a black sports car. All of the suspects wore hoods or shirts wrapped around their faces.

JEWELRY STORE OWNER PISTOL WHIPPED Pottsville, PA
December 13, 2007
At 7:11 p.m. three armed white male suspects, two in dark hooded sweatshirts and the third wearing a dark blue parka, entered a retail jewelry store. They were wearing gloves and covered their faces with black scarves. There were a total of four people at work in the store and two customers. The suspects ordered everyone to the floor. The owner hit the panic button numerous times, which one of the suspects saw and yelled, “He hit it!” One of the suspects then forced the owner into a back office and struck him in the right temple with a pistol, and then bound his hands and feet with duct tape. The suspects grabbed what they could from showcases and were gone in 53 seconds.