Jewelry store worker says burglars only looted one safe

The losses suffered by a Bell Boulevard jewelry store after an April 7 burglary are apparently a lot less than previously reported, according to a store employee.
It was initially reported that Lee’s Fine Jewelry, located at 40-18 Bell Boulevard, was recovering from a $500,000 loss, but the figure is much lower than that, said the worker, who spoke to The Queens Courier on the condition of anonymity.
The incident occurred anywhere between 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 6 and 9:20 a.m. the next morning. Community Affairs Officer Bill Conway of the 111th Precinct said that the perpetrators gained entry to the building through the roof.
The burglars allegedly disabled the alarm by cutting the phone lines and broke into Elegant Dental, a second-floor office that sits just above the jewelry shop. The suspects then drilled a hole in the dentist’s floor and dropped down into Lee’s.
While the shop’s owner was unavailable for comment, an employee at Lee’s said that the initial reports of a half-million-dollar loss were incorrect because the robbers were only able to get into one of the two safes in the store.
The owners apparently did not have insurance to cover the theft, but the loss will not affect the business’s future. Nearly a week after the robbery, the store’s display cases were fully restocked.
It is unclear if the damages to the dental office were covered by insurance but the practice was up and running as of April 16.
The early-morning heist was a surprising blow to many of the area’s shop owners, who have enjoyed doing business in what, according to them, has been a relatively safe environment.
Mark Boccia, owner of Bourbon Street, a popular Bell Boulevard eatery located just a few doors from the jewelry store, said that the attack has made the restaurant a lot more vigilant and aware of its surroundings.
“We are much more aware of keeping our doors closed, keeping an eye on the security cameras,” said Boccia.
A manager at S&L Electronics noted that the attack was surprising for such a busy area and wondered how those responsible were able to execute the crime in such a flawless manner.