After a jeweler in the Prospect Lefferts Gardens neighborhood of Brooklyn was severely beaten during a robbery at his store, the Jewelers’ Security Alliance has received four other recent reports of violent robberies in the area.
On Dec. 30, store owner Manny Cohen, 79, was taken to the ICU of a local hospital with a brain bleed after an attack, NBC New York reported. Cohen was closing Roxy Jewelry Store in the Prospect Lefferts Gardens neighborhood of Brooklyn at about 5 p.m. when he was attacked. The two men entered the store and took jewelry valued at $100,000.
JSA has now learned of four other crimes in Brooklyn and Manhattan in recent weeks:
Jan. 4, Manhattan
According to JSA: “Two masked armed robbers pulled a gun on a midtown jewelry store employee threatening to shoot him unless he opened a showcase. One suspect then used a gun to break open the top of the case. The second suspect had a can of pepper spray, and struggled with an employee before snatching jewelry. The suspects changed their clothes while fleeing the store.”
Jan. 8, Brooklyn
“At 5:00 p.m. three suspects carried out a smash and grab robbery of a retail jewelry store in 30 seconds and taking 100 rings. They threatened to shoot the owner and smashed showcases with a hammer,” JSA reports.
Jan. 6, Brooklyn
JSA reports: “At 6:20 p.m. a suspect with a knife ordered an employee to open the safe, and left with 25 items. The suspect had been in previously pretending to be a customer.”
Jan. 3, Manhattan
“It has been reported to JSA that there was a fifth armed robbery in Midtown Manhattan within the last two weeks,” according to JSA.
Recommendations
JSA made the following recommendations: “Do not resist in a robbery. Suspects have guns, knives, hammers and other dangerous weapons and will not hesitate to use them. Do not risk the lives of your employees and customer, in addition to your own life. Rely on your insurance.”