FBI officials are seeking information about masked suspects who allegedly robbed four jewelry stores, including a store in Dearborn.
The four robbers alternately carried an AR-style rifle, handgun and hammer and targeted jewelry stores in Illinois, Missouri and Michigan, according to a press release from the FBI Chicago field office.
The suspects also wore costume face masks, according to surveillance video footage the FBI released of three of the robberies.
Video footage from Aug. 7 shows one suspect in a Michael Meyers-like mask using an AR-style rifle to break open the entrance door of Mariam Jewelry, a Dearborn shop at 7012 Schaefer.
Another suspect, wearing another mask with sunglasses and gloves, reaches toward two blurred victims with a hammer on camera.
The first suspect points the gun at the victims as both flee the scene and enter a car parked directly outside the store.
The suspects allegedly stole jewelry from the store’s display cases and drove off in a black vehicle with no license plates, according to the release.
The FBI also released video footage of three other connected armed robberies in Bridgeview, Illinois from July 13, 2023 and Jan. 9, 2024.
Douglas DePodesta, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Division of the FBI, asked in the release that members of the public examine the footage and reach out with tips.
“The perpetrators of these crimes showed a blatant disregard for public safety and the rule of law during the commission of these brazen robberies,” DePodesta said. “Their actions will haunt these victims for a lifetime, and we’re asking for the public’s help to bring them to justice before someone is killed.”
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $15,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspects.
Officials ask that anyone with information contact the FBI at 1-800-225-5324 or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
“Do not let the costume masks distract from the seriousness of these robberies,” Kwame Raoul, attorney general for the State of Illinois, said in the release. “The individuals who committed these robberies terrorized and endangered the safety of customers and employees alike. I urge anyone who has information about these crimes to contact law enforcement without further delay.”
In a separate, high-profile Metro Detroit case, a Dearborn man was remanded to jail on Oct. 18 after he was charged with killing a Hamtramck jewelry store owner by allegedly posing as a utility worker to gain entry to the victim’s home.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard told The Detroit News he believes Murray was targeted because of his business.
Novi police also recently investigated a Sept. 7 jewelry theft of approximately $10,000 in stolen goods at Gold Buy and Jewelry Pawn Loans.
Two suspects walked out of the store with the stolen goods while two other suspects distracted an employee, police said.
Michigan law enforcement agencies reported 3,265 robberies in 2022, the most recent year for which crime statistics are available through the Michigan Incident Crime Reporting program.
Reported robbery incidents in Michigan decreased by 9.3% from 2021 to 2022 and decreased by 35.3% since 2018, according to the 2022 MICR Annual Report.
Local law enforcement also reported 23,603 incidents of retail fraud theft in 2022.
Law enforcement reported resolving 24% of reported robbery cases that year with an arrest or prosecution. Agencies also reported resolving 12.1% of the total 104,416 larceny cases that year with an arrest or prosecution.
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