Police in New Jersey are looking for a group of thieves that cut their way into a jewelry store in an Ocean County mall and used a torch to break open the safe, making off with $1 million worth of merchandise.
Toms River police say officers were dispatched to Venzio Jewelers in the Ocean County Mall regarding a burglary around 10 a.m. Thursday. Once there, business representatives told cops they had been robbed at some point in the prior 14 hours.
The burglars got into a back office area by cutting a hole in the wall of an empty store next door, police said. They cut the phone cables before using the torch to secure their heist. Police say the alarm panel was ripped off the wall and deactivated. The burglars apparently went to great lengths to stay undetected within the store.
Cops say sprinkler heads were covered with tape and rags were placed at the bottom of the door in an apparent attempt to minimize smoke exposure into the showroom.
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There were no pry marks or evidence of forced entry into the vacant store's back door, which leads directly to the outside of the mall. Initial investigating officers observed the door to be closed but unlocked.
No injuries were reported.
Police say they have obtained surveillance video to assist in their investigation, though they are not releasing it at this time. They also have identified vehicles of interest in this case, but aren't sharing details on those either.
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Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at 732-349-0150.
