Investigators said Wednesday that three jewelry store armed robberies in three counties are believed to be the work of the same people. But so far, they’ve been unable to identify the suspects.
Police in Fulton, Cobb and Gwinnett counties are working together to solve the crimes and hope surveillance video from three Kay Jewelers will lead to the suspects being identified, according to Officer John Chafee with Atlanta police. All three crimes follow a similar style, police said. The suspect or suspects ask to see items in a display case, then tie up store employees at gunpoint and leave with thousands of dollars worth of jewelry and cash.
The first of three incidents happened June 5 at the Scenic Highway store, near Snellville, Gwinnett County police previously said. In that heist, a man and woman stole more than a half-million dollars worth of jewelry at gunpoint.
Gwinnett police Cpl. Jake Smith said the male suspect entered the store first and asked an employee about some merchandise.
“As the employee approached the display case island in the middle of the store, the male suspect produced a black handgun,” Smith said. “He ordered the two employees – the only people in the store – to the floor.”
Then in October, the Kay Jewelers at Atlantic Station was robbed at gunpoint, according to Atlanta police.
In that case, an armed robber grabbed a set of keys and helped himself to $300,000 worth of jewelry after tying employees’ hands behind their backs, police said.
“The male then produced a handgun and ordered the employees onto the floor,” Chafee said in an emailed statement Thursday night. “He bound their hands behind their backs and advised them that this would be over soon and told them not to try anything stupid.”
In the third crime, two men and a woman are accused of an armed robbery at the Kay Jewelers in the 3600 block of Dallas Highway, near Marietta, according to Cobb County police.
“According to investigators, two males and a female entered the Kay Jewelers asking to look at items in their display cases,” Sgt. Dana Pierce said in an emailed statement. “Within moments of doing so, the two male perpetrators produced handguns and began tying up the two female employees.”
Any information on the cases can be submitted anonymously to the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at 404-577-TIPS (8477), online at www.crimestoppersatlanta.org or by texting CSA and the tip to CRIMES (274637). Tipsters do not have to give their name or any identifying information to be eligible for the reward of up to $2,000 for the arrest and indictment of the suspects, police said.
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