PENNSYLVANIA GRAB AND RUN
LINKS TO RESOURCES
JEWELRY THIEVES COME BACK - New York, NY – July 2008
Two white male jewelry thieves, who had stolen a valuable necklace from a New York department store in October 2006, were spotted in the last few days casing a different high-end Fifth Avenue jewelry store in Manhattan. While no product was taken, police authorities have asked JSA to warn jewelers of the continued activity of this pair of suspects. Please be advised that these suspects are likely to be very mobile, and may visit jewelry stores in any city, state or foreign country. In the October 2006 theft, the thieves posed as affluent shoppers on a Saturday at 2:00 p.m. when they asked a sales associate to show them a piece of jewelry on the bottom shelf of a display cabinet. As the sales associate reached inside the cabinet, one of the thieves reached over the sales associate’s head and grabbed a valuable diamond bracelet. ABOVE: SEE A 19 SECOND VIDEO OF THE THEFT IN PROGRESS.
JEWELRY CRIME VIDEOS
PITTSBURGH
NECKLACE
August 1, 2008

NEW YORK
BRACELET THEFT
July 2008

THIEVES UNLOCK SHOWCASE AND TAKE NECKLACE - Pittsburgh, PA – August 1, 2008
Two male suspects and one female suspect went into a retail jewelry store in an office building. The couple distracted the owner while the third suspect unlocked a jewelry case closest to the door and took a diamond and ruby necklace. The suspects then all left the store within 30 seconds. See a clear picture of all three suspects as well as the theft in the video pictured above.

Timothy E. Root, pictured on left above, is wanted for a grab and run of two diamond rings from the fine jewelry department of a retail store in Plymouth Meeting Township, PA on August 6, 2008. His partner in that crime, Jermaine Johnson, pictured on right, is already in custody. Root has a lengthy criminal history, including crimes of violence, and should be considered dangerous.

Anyone with information should contact 911 or request additional information from
Det. Jeffrey McGee, 610-279-1900 or e-mail
jmcgee@plymouthmeetingtownship.org

ARRESTS AND CONVICTIONS
FRONT PAGE CRIME HEADLINES

TWO ROBBERIES IN PA – SEVERAL ARRESTS Kingston , PA – May 5, 2008
Two armed black males entered a retail jewelry store in the morning and put a gun to the heads of the owner and his spouse. As the robbery unfolded, the spouse was able to press an alarm and the suspects fled without merchandise before the police arrived. One 38-year-old suspect was arrested and one escaped. The suspect who escaped was described as a 6'1” black male. Three loaded handguns were found near where the suspect was arrested.

Wilkes-Barre , PA – May 15, 2008
Three armed black male suspects entered a retail jewelry store at 11:00 a.m., tied up employees, and took cash and jewelry. Outside the store two other suspects were in a vehicle. The two suspects fled in the vehicle and three suspects fled on foot. Police apprehended two of the suspects on foot nearby. The other three suspects are still at large.

TRAFFIC VIOLATION FOILS WATCH THIEF
Cedar Rapids , Iowa - May 21, 2008
John Flagg, Jr., 52, of Cleveland was arrested and charged with first degree theft, third degree burglary and numerous traffic violations after breaking into a jewelry store and taking $150,000 worth of watches. When a police officer tried to pull Flagg over for driving without headlights, he sped away and attempted to abandon the car and flee. Officer pursued him and found him with a gym bag containing 43 watches. Cedar Rapids police officers later found more than 118 watches in Flagg's car.

THREE ARMED AND MASKED ROBBERS HIT JEWELRY STORE
Henrico County , VA - May 28, 2008
Three black male suspects walked into a jewelry store carrying guns at 6:15 pm. The suspects forced three employees into a back room, while a fourth employee was able to get out of the store and call the police. The suspects then smashed two display cases, grabbed an undetermined amount of diamonds, and fled to a green van which police later found at a nearby grocery store. One suspect wore a green shirt and stocking mask, while a second wore a black vest, pants, long-sleeved shirt and mask, and the third wore a white polo shirt with blue stripes and a black mask All three suspects were described as being between the ages of 25 and 30.


DOUBLE HOMICIDE AT JEWELRY STORE Grand Haven, MI – July 2, 2008
(FLASH! JULY 5, 2008
Police have announced that they have arrested a 47-year-old black male suspect from Muskegon, MI for these murders. The suspect has a long criminal record, including a history of armed robberies. More information will be provided as it is available) ---- The owner of a retail jewelry store, age 61, and a customer, age 77, were found dead in the jewelry store at 3:30 p.m. from gunshot wounds to the head. The owner was found dead in his office, and the customer was found dead in the middle of the store near a jewelry counter, shot in the back of his head. The owner was found next to an open safe with cash and jewelry inside. The two victims were discovered by the owner’s daughter when she returned from lunch. The owner lived above the store in a small apartment. There were no signs of a struggle or weapons found at the store, and police state it is unclear at this point if anything was taken. However, the Police Chief of Grand Haven said there was now reason to believe it was an attempted armed robbery.

DISTRACTION THIEVES POSE AS COUPLE AND GRAB WATCH
Frederick , MD - May 31, 2008
A black male suspect went into a jewelry store and said that he was waiting for his wife and that they were interested in looking at anniversary bands. The male suspect only stayed for a few minutes, and then returned a short time later with a black female suspect, and both of them began looking at high-end watches. The male suspect said that he wanted to buy three watches, one for himself, one for his father for Father's Day and one for the female suspect. When the salesperson showed the male suspect one watch that he had asked about, the male suspect said that it was too expensive, and then both suspects began asking about other watches.

The salesperson believes the female suspect distracted her by asking to try on the watch the salesperson was wearing, saying that it had the dial she wanted, while the male suspect slipped a high-end watch into a bag he placed on the counter. The female suspect told the salesperson that she had to get the wedding rings in her car so they could match the anniversary bands and she left the store, while the male suspect told the salesperson he wanted to pay for the three watches using cash and a cashier's check. The male suspect then left with the stolen watch he had placed in the bag when the sales associate went to get a form to report a cash sale of over $10,000.

The male suspect was described as being in his late 20's or early 30's, 6”3”, and thin. He was wearing baggy grey army fatigues and brown boots and a royal blue military style beret. The female suspect was also in her late 20's or early 30's, 5'2 and wore a light blue linen shirt, dark pants, a high-end watch and nice jewelry.

SUMMARY OF TRAVELING SALESPERSON CASES
SALESPERSON ROBBED AT KNIFEPOINT - John’s Creek, GA (Atlanta suburb)– August 8, 2008
A salesperson had left a sales call and was putting his two line bags in the trunk of his vehicle when a white Saturn pulled up with four masked male suspects. After a brief confrontation, one of the suspects took a swing at him with a knife. The suspects took both line bags and drove away. The suspects had flattened his tires with a knife before he exited the store. The items taken included significant pearl merchandise.
SALESMAN AND WIFE BEATEN AND ROBBED AT HOME - Sugar Land, TX – August 10, 2008
A jewelry salesperson and his wife were beaten, tied up and robbed when two male suspects with bandanas covering their faces broke into their home at 11:00 p.m. The husband, who works out of their home, was pistol-whipped and the wife was physically assaulted. The suspects took a small floor safe, several bags and the wife’s purse. The suspects broke in through the home’s back door. The husband was taken to the hospital in critical condition with extensive head and facial injuries.
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