Thieves take precious items, leave trail of damage during heist of SW Miami-Dade jewelry store
MIAMI -- Investigators with the Miami-Dade Police Department were searching Monday for thieves who burglarized a mom-and-pop jewelry store in southwest Miami-Dade, taking virtually all of the store's merchandise and doing substantial damage to the building during the heist, authorities said.
Hours later, surveillance video released by the store owner showed a subject coming out of the bathroom inside the jewelry shop.
The individual was wearing a mask and picking through the door, the owner of Ernie and The Cat Jewelry, who did not want to reveal his face said he has no doubt the subjects were familiar with the business and knew where most of the cameras were located.
"They got into the next-door ceiling and disconnected the alarm," said the store owner. He alleges the thieves entered his business through his next-door neighbor's shop – a beauty salon, that according to him does not have an alarm.
Police are investigating allegations that the thieves went from that bathroom to the jewelry's bathroom before 2 a.m. They allegedly managed to avoid the alarm system which was apparently deactivated from within.
"They were there for two to three hours," said the jewelry's owner after looking at some images from surveillance cameras that the thieves could not erase.
Police were called around 5:45 a.m. to Ernie & The Cat jewelry store at 7249 Coral Way on a burglary report and found a large hole in the wall of the building that housed the safe and other items.
The hole was caused when two massive safes were removed from the jewelry using a flatbed towing truck which yanked off the wall of the store.
Another video shows a van parked outside used to place the two safes that stored jewelry and cash.
Police did not immediately confirm the value of the jewelry and merchandise that were taken but store owners say it was nearly a million dollars in merchandise and money.
Customers who had taken their jewelry in for repair said their items were also taken during the burglary, according to sources.
Pictures shared on the store's Instagram page included images of pricey Rolex watches, what appeared to be pearl necklaces and an assortment of gold necklaces and chains.
Anyone with information about the crime was asked to call Miami-Dade police or CrimeStoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
