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Masked Robbers Steal $800,000 in Gold Necklaces During Queens Jewelry Store Heist December 17, 2024 (0 comments)
New York, NY--A group of masked robbers armed with sledgehammers and hammers carried out a daring heist at a Queens jewelry store, stealing $800,000 worth of gold necklaces.
[Image via Crime Stoppers]
Per a report by the New York Post, the incident occurred around 6:20 p.m. on Friday at ABID Jewelers in Jackson Heights. Police said the three suspects smashed through the store window and grabbed 226 gold necklaces before fleeing.
Store owner Abid Mukhtar described the chaos, noting the thieves stopped traffic and cleared the block during the attack. Mukhtar, who was inside the store at the time, said the trio "took whatever they could hold" before escaping.
The report noted that the suspects fled the scene in a black Jeep that was later abandoned near 72nd Street and 35th Avenue. From there, they reportedly switched to a black sedan and headed in an unknown direction. Authorities believe the Jeep had been stolen prior to the incident.
Two days later, the same group allegedly attempted another robbery at Pyramids Jewelry II in Brooklyn around 1:35 p.m. Despite using sledgehammers, they failed to shatter the store's glass window and fled in a Honda Civic with Pennsylvania plates (LKH8653).
The NYPD released surveillance footage of the suspects from the Friday heist and is urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.
Shaken by the crime, Mukhtar expressed disbelief: "We're here thinking we are safe since it's a busy area, but it still happened."
Anyone with information can call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or submit tips online at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org.
More details in the report by The New York Post.