Hammer-Toting Jewel Thief Caught On Camera
KENDALL (CBSMiami) – Miami-Dade police are searching for a hammer-toting jewelry store thief who was caught on camera smashing through a bulletproof window in order to get his hands on some pricy jewels.
Surveillance video released by Five Star Jewelers shows a man dressed in blue jumping out of a car in front of the business at 11760 N. Kendall Drive around 3:00 a.m. Wednesday.
The hammer-wielding thief used the tool to smash a hole through the inch-thick glass in the front of the store and grab thousands of dollars worth of gold jewelry that was on display.
"It's very rare, normally criminals are going to look for areas where they don't have any glass," said security guard Henry Ravyellow. "They want it easy and they want it quick."
And quick they were. Ravyellow said the thief used the hammer to pound through the glass in under 21 seconds.
"When you're talking about sitting there and picking at it with a steel ax, it's polycarbonate, so it's inevitably going to chip and break."
The thief managed to break a hole large enough to reach his arm into and grab very expensive gold jewelry.
When describing the bulletproof glass, Ravyellow said, "It will stop a 44-magnum but there's no guarantee."
Five Star Jewelers has been in business at this location for more than two years.
A second suspect remained in a dark colored four door car.
Police are searching for both men.
If you know anything about the suspects or the burglary, please call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
WEB VIDEO EXTRA: Hammer-Toting, Jewel-Snatching Thief Caught On Camera
