{"id":9708,"date":"2015-02-27T18:11:32","date_gmt":"2015-02-28T02:11:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=9708"},"modified":"2015-02-27T18:11:32","modified_gmt":"2015-02-28T02:11:32","slug":"alleged-smash-and-grab-thieves-charged-with-robbery-of-jewelry-stores-in-six-states","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=9708","title":{"rendered":"Alleged “Smash and Grab” Thieves Charged With Robbery of Jewelry Stores in Six States"},"content":{"rendered":"

MICHIGAN<\/strong> – Seventeen individuals from the metro-Detroit area have been charged in a series of smash and grab robberies of jewelry stores across the United States, federal officials announced today.<\/p>\n

Three separate federal indictments filed during the past month charge the defendants with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery of stores located in New York, Maryland, North Carolina, Mississippi, Nebraska and Connecticut, officials said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese crimes, committed during business hours, are serious because of the danger and trauma they create for the victim customers and sales clerks,\u201d U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade<\/strong> said. \u201cThese defendants travelled around the country to commit their crimes in hopes of dividing and conquering witnesses and investigators, but with the collaboration of law enforcement agencies across the country, those schemes have been thwarted.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

These indictments follow a series of investigations nationally by various state, local and federal law<\/p>\n

About 40 smash and grab robberies in 2014. In Michigan alone, between 2012 and 2014, approximately 25 smash and grab jewelry store robberies were committed.<\/p>\n

According to the indictments, crews from the metro-Detroit area planned and executed six robberies.<\/p>\n

The crews traveled across the country to jewelry stores that sell Rolex watches and other jewelry.<\/p>\n

Several members of the crew entered the jewelry stores while they were open for business, smashed the Rolex display cases with sledge hammers and fled the store with Rolex watches, valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars.<\/p>\n

The robbers escaped into waiting, stolen vehicles and returned to Michigan with the stolen watches.<\/p>\n

The indicted defendants are:<\/p>\n