Dave's Jewelers in Hamilton and Golden Pleasures in Bordentown Township were broken into early last Friday by what police believe are the same, two-man team
Two area jewelry stores were burglarized recently by smash-and-grab thieves who struck in the dead of night, police said.
Dave's Jewelers in Hamilton and Golden Pleasures in Bordentown Township were broken into early last Friday by what police believe is the same, two-man team.
Late last month, Trenton Jewelers in Hamilton was the target of a similar crime, but police said Wednesday descriptions of the perpetrators from the latest crimes are different from the Trenton incident.
The first burglary was at Dave's.
Hamilton police Capt. James Stevens said police were dispatched to the Nottingham Way store at 3:06 a.m.
Officers arrived to find a large front window smashed and display cases inside broken with items obviously missing.
Witnesses told officers they saw two males in the store who fled the crime driving a silver BMW that took a left onto White Horse-Hamilton Square Road and then disappeared, Stevens said.
One man wore a white visor, white t-shirt, and the second was heavyset and wore an orange or red t-shirt, Stevens said.
The vehicle, which had been stolen from Hamilton, was later discovered near the Golden Pleasures burglary, police in both towns said.
Bordentown Township police Capt. Brian Pesce said the Golden Pleasure burglary was reported at about 4:30 a.m. Friday and was extremely similar to Dave's.
Police found the stolen BMW nearby and connected it to Hamilton's incident a short time later.
"We're confident it's the same suspects," Pesce said.
Video surveillance was recovered from both stores, police said.
The owner of Golden Pleasures declined to comment for this story Wednesday.
Steve Bath, owner of Dave's, said in a statement that all customer jewelry was locked in the store's safe and while the business suffered damage and loss, nobody was obviously injured due to the time of day when the crime occurred.
"We will use this experience to bolster our security for the future and to give thanks that everyone is in excellent health, left unscathed," Bath said. "Our customers continue to be our central focus."
PLUS: WATCH: Thieves grab $80K in jewels in 30 seconds
In late August, two jewel thieves smashed their way into Trent Jewelers in Hamilton's Five Points intersection and escaped with about $80,000 in diamonds and rings.
The 3 a.m. heist was caught on the store's security system and shows two men running through the store, smashing cases.
Stevens said Wednesday that the two men from the Dave's and Golden Pleasures crimes are larger and taller than the Trent thieves, who were thinner and smaller.
The owners of Trent Jewelers, a family business, have offered a $2,500 reward in the case.
Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.
