Burglary suspect shot inside jewelry store; several other stores impacted in Horsham shopping strip
HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, Pa. (CBS) -- A man was shot after multiple people tried to break into a Montgomery County jewelry store on Wednesday morning, according to police.
Police were dispatched to the Jems Jewels and Gold store on Route 309 (Bethlehem Pike) near Lower State Road around 5 a.m. for a report of a shooting. The store has a North Wales mailing address but is in the Shoppes at English Village shopping center in Horsham Township.
An employee "encountered a suspect inside the store unlawfully and a gun was discharged," Horsham police wrote in a news release.
Officers who arrived at the store found the suspect, who had been shot in the arm. The person was taken to a hospital and was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
"Everything is a mess," Vicky Lombardo said.
Lombardo works at one of the businesses where robbers used to break into the jewelry store.
Police said, "An unknown number of additional suspects fled the area before the arrival of police."
Residents were asked to avoid the area to allow officers to complete their investigation. The lot reopened after 7 a.m.
First, they tore a hole through Massage Envy which is two stores down and they tore another hole through Waxing the City.
"They cut wires because I guess didn't want anyone to be able to see the camera footage," Lombardo said.
She calls the thieves a professional crew because of how they planned out the heist.
"Then, they went in the bathroom. They tried to break through that wall into the jewelry store and they couldn't completely get in. It's a mess. Then, they went in the hallway and that's where they got in. You can see their safe through the wall," Lombardo said.
A man who identified himself as the owner said the suspects got away with an unknown amount of jewelry.
The store was not scheduled to open until 10 a.m., according to its website. Now, investigators are on the search to find everyone who was involved.
Police said several stores "were affected by the burglars" actions and could not open for business.
"I guess people are desperate and this type of thing can happen anywhere," resident Doug Seaburg said.
"Can you say you're surprised anymore?" Kim Webster said. "You hear about these kinds of things on the news all the time. Am I surprised to hear in this community here? A little bit cause it's a nice shopping center. I feel safe here."
