Novi Police Investigate Jewelry Theft at Local Store
Novi, Michigan – Local authorities are looking into a robbery that took place at a jewelry store in Novi last weekend, where two individuals allegedly made off with around $10,000 worth of items.
The incident occurred at Gold Buy and Jewelry Pawn Loans on Saturday afternoon. An employee was working alone when a woman, described as being in her 60s and wearing a hijab, entered the store accompanied by a teenage boy. They were interested in purchasing a ring for one of her sons.
While they were engaged in this conversation, two other men entered the store. These men also showed interest in rings. The police report indicates that during this time, the first employee became distracted. One of the men quickly moved to an adjacent display, where he was able to reach over the counter and open a locked case.
According to the police, one of the suspects then grabbed a box containing 18 rings from the case. The second man assisted by placing the box into a satchel-style purse. The pair left the store shortly after the theft.
Police are currently considering all four customers – the older woman, the teenage boy, and the two men – as suspects. The first man involved in the theft was described as being approximately 6 feet 2 inches tall, with a medium build, short black hair, glasses, and a short beard. He was wearing a black long-sleeved shirt and black pants.
The second man, who was noted to be carrying the satchel, was described as being about 5-foot-8 with a thin build. He was wearing a beanie cap, a white button-down shirt, and black slacks.
The incident occurred between 3 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. on Saturday. The employee promptly reported the theft, and police arrived at the store shortly after to start investigating.
Cmdr. Jason Meier of the Novi Police Department commented on the nature of the case, stating that all four individuals who were in the store at the time are currently being looked at as persons of interest.
This incident highlights a concerning trend in retail thefts. According to data from the Michigan Incident Crime Reporting program, there were 23,603 incidents of retail fraud theft reported in 2022. In total, there were 104,416 larceny cases that year, with only a 12.1% clearance rate, meaning many theft cases remain unresolved.
In light of this recent jewelry store theft, local authorities remind store owners and employees to remain vigilant, especially when dealing with multiple customers at once. Anyone with information about this incident or identifying the suspects is encouraged to contact the Novi Police Department to assist with the investigation.
