Woodbridge jewelry store targeted in daytime smash-and-grab robbery
WOODBRIDGE – Police are investigating a daytime smash-and-grab robbery in which an undisclosed amount of jewelry was stolen from a store in the Iselin section.
According to police, around 12:40 p.m. June 7 four people entered Virani Jewelers on Oak Tree Road and used hammers to smash display cases before taking an undisclosed amount of jewelry.
Police said the robbery took about one minute.
The four suspects then fled in a black SUV which was operated by a fifth suspect, police said.
The robbery is similar to another daytime smash-and-grab theft. Two weeks ago, a large amount of jewelry was stolen from a Perth Amboy store. Around 2:30 p.m. May 22 the suspects went into Ruby's Jeweler, 171 Smith St., and began breaking the display cases and made off with the jewelry, according to police.
No arrests have been announced in that case.
And this isn't the first time Virani Jewelers has been targeted by thieves.
In June 2022 a group of armed and masked suspects smashed display cases and filled bags with gold from the Virani Jewelers, 1394 Oak Tree Road.
The store's security video, which was released on social media, captured the less than two-minute heist in which about eight suspects entered Virani Jewelers just before the business was set to close for the night.
And in November 2008 burglars smashed the window of the Virani Jewelers Marconi Avenue store in the early morning hours and made off with about $50,000 worth of merchandise, according to police.
The Virani Jewelers stores specialize in jewelry with South Asian styles, especially gold, some intricately designed pieces and sets with price tags of more than $7,000, according to its website. Virani Jewelers has several locations in the Iselin section.
Anyone with information on the June 7 robbery is asked to contact Woodbridge Detective Thomas Ratajczak at 732-634-7700.
Email: srussell@gannettnj.com
Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Woodbridge NJ jewelry store targeted in daytime smash-and-grab robbery
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