Security video appears to show four masked individuals involved in the robbery. One suspect is seen smashing the store’s front door with a sledgehammer before the group rushes inside, breaks display cases and grabs jewelry.
A Bogota jewelry store owner told News 12 thieves stole an estimated $500,000 worth of merchandise during a smash-and-grab robbery Wednesday afternoon.
Security video appears to show four masked individuals involved in the robbery. One person is seen smashing the front door of JJB Gold Jewelry with a sledgehammer, before the group rushes inside, breaks display cases and grabs jewelry.
“It was really quick,” said Jennifer Jimenez, co-owner of JJB Gold Jewelry. “When I opened my eyes, they were inside, and all the glass was on the floor…They started to grab everything.”
Jimenez said her mother and her 1-month-old daughter were in a back office during the robbery. She told News 12 the alleged thieves were inside the store for less than a minute.
Surveillance footage shows the group running out of the store, back to a vehicle that had dropped them off moments earlier. The vehicle is then seen speeding away.
Employees at a nearby auto repair shop said they witnessed the suspects leave the area.
“When I drop everything, I get out of the office. I see an Acura. A gray Acura took off,” said Danny Parra, manager of Acetekk Auto Collision. “One of my customers took the license plate, and he wrote it on the window of one of the cars.”
A similar jewelry store robbery was reported in Woodbridge several weeks ago. News 12 has not confirmed whether the incidents are connected. Bogota police have not released additional information. News 12 has reached out to the department for comment but has not yet received a response.
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