Headlines

Chicago Jeweler Loses Entire Inventory in ‘Sophisticated’ Heist

Published

9 years ago

March 11, 2016

INSTORE Staff

“They took everything – 100 percent. I have nothing left to sell.”

After what police are calling a “sophisticated” heist, 78-year-old Tamaki Ogura was forced to close his jewelry store in a Chicago suburb, the Chicago Tribune reports. Speaking with the news outlet, Ogura said “the burglars made a hole in the roof of a neighboring doctor’s office, then made another hole through a common wall between the doctor’s office and his store and then cut holes in the back of two safes to steal the items.”

The store was apparently vulnerable at the time of the theft, as the report adds that Ogura broke his neck a few months before and often left a co-worker to man the fort; it was during this time that a few people came into the store to “investigate” the roof. “They took everything — 100 percent. I have nothing to sell,” he says.

Read more at the Chicago Tribune

Ready to Relocate? Wilkerson Makes Your Move Seamless

When Brockhaus Jewelry decided to leave their longtime West Main Street storefront for a standalone building elsewhere in Norman, Oklahoma, owners John Brockhaus and Brad Shipman faced a familiar challenge: how to efficiently reduce inventory before the big move. Their solution? Partnering with liquidation specialists Wilkerson for a second time. "We'd already experienced Wilkerson's professionalism during a previous sale," Shipman recalls. "But their approach to our relocation event truly impressed us. They strategically prioritized our existing pieces while tactfully introducing complementary merchandise as inventory levels decreased." The carefully orchestrated sale didn't just meet targets—it shattered them. Asked if they'd endorse Wilkerson to industry colleagues planning similar transitions—whether relocating, retiring, or refreshing their space—both partners were emphatic in their approval. "The entire process was remarkably straightforward," Shipman notes. "Wilkerson delivered a well-structured program, paired us with a knowledgeable advisor, and managed every detail flawlessly from concept to completion."