FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - A group of thieves carried out a high-priced heist at The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale, walking out of a department store with tens of thousands of dollars in jewelry.
Fort Lauderdale Police on Thursday released surveillance video of the four people who, they believe, stole roughly $30,000 worth of jewelry from the Macy’s at the shopping center, located along the 2300 block of East Sunrise Boulevard, Saturday afternoon.
Detectives said the three men and a woman captured in the security footage worked together to rob the store at around 5 p.m.
“This is a pretty big deal, $30,000 in merchandise from a store, while the store is open, while employees and other patrons are inside the store,” said Fort Lauderdale Police spokesperson Casey Liening. “That’s a pretty brazen act.”
A Galleria Mall shopper who spoke with 7News was disturbed by the theft.
“That’s very scary,” said the shopper, who identified herself as Nicky.
The surveillance video showed two of the men speaking with a Macy’s employee.
Detectives said the pair were distracting the employee so that the other two subjects had enough time to open a jewelry case, grab the merchandise and walk out.
“It was almost immediately after that we were notified,” Liening said. “We had an officer out on site at the mall that was able to react pretty quickly. Unfortunately, not quickly enough, though, to find the people responsible at the time.”
Police said the thieves left the scene in a red sedan.
“I’ve shopped at this mall plenty of times, and this is the first time I’m hearing it,” said Nicky, “and they should have let us know, so we can be
aware.”
Detectives said they want people to look closely as the surveillance stills of the subjects and pay special attention to two of the men’s arm tattoos.
Police are hoping someone recognizes the thieves so detectives can locate and apprehend them.
“We are not going to stop until we identify this people and we close this case,” said Liening. “We’re not going to tolerate someone targeting our businesses and our residents in a crime like this.”
Detectives have not specified the pieces of jewelry that were stolen but are asking pawn shop owners and employees to be on alert.
If you have any information on this theft or the subjects’ whereabouts, call FLPD detective Maupin at 954-828-5645 or Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.
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