Detectives need the public’s help in finding a burglar who cleaned out a Corona jewelry store this week, stealing a incredible bundle of precious products.
Law enforcement sources said the break-in occurred early on the morning of Jan. 24 at Shlomi Jewelry, located at 37-65 Junction Blvd.
Police sources said the unidentified burglar cut a hole through the roof and disabled security cameras and alarms. He then spent hours taking inventory; WABC-TV reported that the crook made off with 90 percent of the store’s inventory. The bandit even took a box containing $3,000 in cash designated for donations to assist poor people in Israel.
Although it was reported that more than a million dollars in loot had been taken, police indicated that the stolen jewelry had an estimated value of $100,000.
Store owner Shlomi Sakal told WABC-TV that the alarm company overseeing security at the store alerted police at 6 a.m. on Jan. 24, but when officers from the 115th Precinct responded to the scene, they found nothing out of the ordinary.
“Police came, say nothing is wrong,” Sakal was quoted by WABC-TV. “They look through the gate. They say nothing was inside the gate. They left.”
After cleaning out the store, law enforcement sources said, the suspect apparently hailed a livery cab and fled the scene. On Jan. 26, the NYPD released video footage from inside the taxi of the thief.
Cops described the perpetrator as a Hispanic male between 30 and 40 years old, who was also wearing a hooded sweatshirt.
Anyone with information regarding the burglary or the suspect’s whereabouts can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA), visit the Crime Stoppers website, send a direct message on Twitter to @NYPDTips or a text message to 274637 (CRIMES), then enter TIP577. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
