Articles and News

Ardmore, PA—Six men wearing masks and brandishing guns made off with an unknown amount of merchandise in a smash-and-grab at Govberg Jewelers in the Suburban Square shopping center here. The latest smash-and-grab occurred just one day after another group of robbers were indicted for robbing the jeweler’s former location in nearby Bala Cynwyd, PA in 2012. Govberg also has two other locations in Philadelphia, PA.

The 2012 robbery was part of a string of thefts at upscale jewelry stores in the Main Line suburbs of Philadelphia. In addition to the earlier Govberg robbery, both the Tourneau store in King of Prussia and the Bernie Robbins store in Radnor were hit within a two-month period. DNA evidence helped to apprehend those criminals.

The latest smash and grab occurred at 6:20 p.m, Saturday, shortly before the store was due to close for the evening. There were customers in the store. The thieves tasered the security guard and took his gun, but nobody was injured in the incident.

An anonymous source that worked for another retailer nearby told The Centurion the timing was perfect for the robbery, because Suburban Square, an upscale, open-air center, typically is slow at that time.

“Stores are getting ready to close but they haven’t locked up, and by then [Saturday evening] most of the Main Line has gone out to dinner,” the source said. “The robbers must have spent some time watching [shopping] patterns.”

The robbers fled in a white van, and were chased by Lower Merion Township police as far the border of Philadelphia. Lower Merion police did not continue pursuit over the city border.

Philadelphia city police later recovered the van, but by then both robbers and jewelry were gone.

Lower Merion police did, however, recover a bloodstained display stand and a glove from the parking lot behind the store, and footage from both the Govberg security system and cameras at the Apple store nearby may help in finding the suspects.

This bloody jewelry stand was found behind the Govberg store, according to a report by WPVI-TV in Philadelphia.

It’s not known if the current Govberg hit is related to the previous one, but authorities so far believe it isn’t. John Kennedy, president of the Jewelers’ Security Alliance, also told The Centurion he believes it’s not too likely they’re related. While it’s always possible that the gang just indicted for the earlier thefts could have additional members who aren’t in prison, he said, there are many other gangs that use similar strategy.

A spokesman for the Lower Merion police department told The Centurion the investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released beyond what is already in the local media. Watch TV news reports here and here.

Anyone with information about the crime or the stolen goods should call the Lower Merion Police Department, (610) 649-1000.

Top image: NBC10.com, Philadelphia