Jewelry (Credit:
Bella Ella Boutique/ Flickr CC/
A Hollywood-style plot to steal about $1 million in jewels – despite being locked in a safe – from a Toms River store played out overnight between Wednesday and Thursday, when thieves pulled off a multi-step break-in and robbery.
According to Toms River Police Lt. Gene Bachonski, sometime between 8 p.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m. Thursday, an unknown suspect or suspects entered Venzio Jewelers, located in the Ocean County Mall, and stole the merchandise.
According to police, the perpetrators entered the rear office area of the store by cutting a hole in the wall of an adjacent empty store. The suspects then cut the phone and alarm cables, and apparently used a torch to enter a large safe and remove approximately $1 million worth of jewelry.
The scene was processed by the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department C.S.I. Division and is under investigation by Toms River detectives.
Anyone with information regarding the crime is asked to contact Detective Michael MacDonald at 732-349-0150, ext. 1366 or Detective Jennifer Grob at 732-349-0150, ext. 1319.
