Masked men armed with sledgehammers rob Jared jewelry store in Hoover - AL.com
A masked man armed with a sledgehammer robbed Jared The Galleria of Jewelry in Hoover Saturday night.
The holdup happened just before 7 p.m. at the store on Galleria Circle. Hoover police Lt. Keith Czeskleba said witnesses told police the black male entered the store and struck the top of a display case. He announced, “this is a robbery” and two additional suspects with sledgehammers entered the store with their faces covered.
After taking an unknown amount of jewelry, the suspects fled the area in a dark colored car. There were no injuries reported. Employees had been warned to beware after similar robberies have taken place at Jared stores in other states this year.
On Jan. 25, authorities say, three men robbed an Indiana store of more than $830,000 in jewelry. The Chicago Tribune reported that that trio entered the store just after 7 p.m. One of the men engaged an employee in conversation, and the other two “began smashing display cases with hammers and taking jewelry” before fleeing the store. Two men were arrested after a brief foot chase, and police found jewelry in a pillow case and a cloth bag. Two four-pound sledgehammers were recovered from inside the store.
Just last week in Tennessee, a Chattanooga Jared’s was robbed in similar fashion. According to a Chattanooga Police press release, the robbery happened Feb. 6.
Three black male suspects believed to be in their 20s entered the business, one armed with a handgun. The suspects threatened workers, smashed display cases, and fled with an undisclosed amount of jewelry. All three suspects were last seen in a black Chevy Trailblazer. No arrests have been made in the Tennessee case.
Police have not indicated any link between the holdups.
Anyone with information is asked to call Hoover police Det. Brad Fountain at 205-444-7562. Tipsters who want to remain anonymous and qualify for a cash reward can call Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
