Ten daytime smash-and-grab robberies have struck jewelry stores across New Jersey since January, with no arrests made so far.
The most recent jewelry heist occurred this week at Bloomingdale’s in Hackensack. Thieves have targeted shops in Perth Amboy, Woodbridge, Bogota, Wayne, Jersey City, and Edison. Most attacks follow the same pattern: several masked people smash through windows and doors with sledgehammers. They bring large trash bags into the store, take the jewelry, and flee in stolen cars waiting for them outside.
Local police are working with Jewelry Security Alliance on the investigations and have suggested the jewelry stores hire armed guards to help prevent thefts. While most of the stores have security cameras, they have not deterred the thieves or helped identify them…