Toms River, N.J. — Authorities in New Jersey are actively pursuing leads to apprehend the perpetrators behind a brazen theft exceeding $1 million in jewelry from Venzio Jewelers, located within the Ocean County Mall.
The incident unfolded on March 28, approximately at 10 a.m., prompting a swift response from Toms River Police following reports of a burglary and theft at the jewelry store.
Upon arrival, officers engaged with representatives from Venzio Jewelers, who disclosed that the culprits had gained unlawful entry into the establishment sometime between 8 p.m. the previous evening and 10 a.m. that morning. According to police statements, the thieves accessed the rear office by creating an opening in the wall of an adjacent vacant unit.
Utilizing precision and stealth, the suspects proceeded to sever phone and alarm cables before employing a lit torch to breach a substantial safe and abscond with the valuable jewelry.
Offering insights into the investigation, Toms River Lt. Gene Bachonski revealed further tactics employed by the perpetrators to evade detection. These included masking the sprinkler heads with tape to circumvent activation due to torch-induced smoke and blocking the entrance with rags to contain the smoke within the premises.
Additionally, Bachonski highlighted the dislodging of the alarm panel from the wall, effectively nullifying its functionality.
Although surveillance footage has been secured, along with the identification of vehicles of interest, law enforcement authorities have refrained from divulging additional details at this juncture.
Individuals possessing pertinent information regarding the incident are urged to contact Toms River Police Detective Michael MacDonald at 732-349-0150, extension 1366, or Detective Jennifer Grob at extension 1319, to aid in the ongoing investigation.
