Police seeking four men in jewelry store holdup

BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer

These photos of the four suspects were taken during the armed robbery of Ballew Jewelers, West Main Street, Freehold Borough, on the afternoon of Aug. 26. Above are suspects No. 1 and No. 2. Law enforcement officials are continuing to search for four men who robbed Ballew Jewelers, West Main Street, Freehold Borough, of $1 million in jewelry and cash on the afternoon of Aug. 26.

In his first comments on the crime, Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis Valentin held a press conference on Sept. 1 to ask for the public’s help in trying to catch the quartet of black men who restrained four employees, cleared jewelry cases and walked out the rear door of the business in under 30 minutes.

Valentin provided details of the heist, which began at about 3:35 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 26.

He said the robbery began when a well-dressed man wearing a suit walked into the store from Main Street. Valentin referred to this man as suspect No. 1. After entering the store, the man engaged a salesperson in a conversation about watches.

About seven minutes later he was joined by a man who also entered from Main Street. Valentin referred to this man as suspect No. 2.

Suspect No. 2 spoke to another salesperson and then produced a handgun. At that point, the first man told the people in the store that a robbery was taking place, according to the prosecutor. The four employees — none of whom was injured during the robbery — were directed to a private office, he said.

After the employees were removed from the sales floor, two more men entered the store. These suspects, to whom Valentin referred as suspects No. 3 and No. 4, were each carrying a duffel bag. They also entered from Main Street.

According to Valentin, during the course of the robbery the employees were secured and restrained with duct tape and brought to the basement of the building. The four suspects stole more than 300 items, including diamond jewelry such as necklaces, bracelets, engagement rings, wedding bands, earrings, Rolex watches and cash, the prosecutor said.

The value of the stolen items is estimated to be more than $1 million and Valentin said that is a conservative figure. The proceeds of the robbery were secured in two duffel bags. According to the prosecutor, the crime took less than 30 minutes to commit.

He said the employees managed to free themselves and returned to the main floor. After making sure the suspects had left the store, they called police. Officers arrived at about 4 p.m.

According to Valentin, the store has a recording system which was operational at the time of the robbery. A video surveillance tape which was shown at the press conference showed the first two suspects walking around the store looking at the jewelry cases and talking to a salesperson.

When asked if he thought the robbery had been planned with the knowledge or involvement of any employee, Valentin said he had no reason to believe that was true.

Officials provided a description of each suspect based upon witness observations and a review of the surveillance footage.

Suspect No. 1 is described as a black man who was wearing a three-button, two-piece dark pinstripe suit. He wore a white dress shirt open at the collar with no tie, and dark square-toed dress shoes. He is estimated to be about 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weigh about 250 pounds with a muscular build. He was well groomed with a full closely cropped beard, a mustache and close cropped hair. He spoke in a calm manner and stated in part that the crime was being committed because his son needed heart surgery.

Suspect No. 2 is described as a black man who was wearing a red Philadelphia Phillies baseball cap, a white shirt, baggy denim shorts which extended past his knees and white sneakers. He is estimated to be 6 feet tall and weigh 225 pounds with a solid build. He had a close cropped beard and mustache and was carrying a dark colored handgun.

Suspect No. 3 is described as a black man who was wearing a white T-shirt with a design or inscription which could not be identified, a pair of baggy blue denim jeans, multi-colored sneakers and a baseball cap with a red bill. The cap had panels which were white and a dark color. He had a full bushy beard and is estimated to be 5 feet, 10 inches tall with a stocky build.

Suspect No. 4 is described as a black man wearing a plain white T-shirt, dark pants and work-type boots. He was wearing a tan partly mesh baseball cap with an unidentified emblem. He is estimated to be 5 feet, 9 inches tall with a thin build. He walked with a pronounced limp of his left leg. He had scruffy facial hair.

Ballew Jewelers’ Freehold Borough store remained closed for several days after the robbery. The owners operate two other jewelry stores, Ballew Jewelers, Sea Girt, and Reusilles, Red Bank.

Valentin asked anyone who may have information about the robbery or the suspects to contact Freehold Borough Police Department Detective Michael George at (732) 462-1234 or Detective Michael Magliozzo of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443.