A brazen midday theft has Gravesend on alert, as police search for a woman accused of walking into a neighborhood jewelry shop and walking out with about $94,000 in merchandise, authorities said. The heist happened on Feb. 8 around 1 p.m., and investigators say the suspect took off in a black minivan. No one was hurt.
As reported by News 12 Brooklyn, the woman entered Aqua Jewels by Monica at its East 4th Street location, removed items from a display case and then escaped southbound on East 4th Street. Police described her as wearing a black dress, jacket and hat, and they are circulating surveillance images while they hunt for leads.
Shop and location
The shop named in police reports is locally known as Aqua Jewels by Monica. Its online storefront lists an East 4th Street address in Gravesend that matches the location investigators have identified, according to the store’s website.
Police appeal for tips
Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers, and tips can be submitted by phone, through the department’s online portal or via its mobile app. The NYPD notes that callers may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward if their information leads to an arrest, per the department’s Crime Stoppers page.
High-value thefts across Brooklyn
This Gravesend case lands on a growing list of recent high-value jewelry thefts in Brooklyn, from a suitcase of jewelry grabbed from a parked car in Sheepshead Bay to an alleged $118,000 home invasion in East New York. The Sheepshead Bay incident was covered in a story about a suitcase stuffed with $120K in bling, and the home invasion was reported by BK Reader.
What to do if you recognize the suspect
No arrests have been announced and the investigation remains active. Anyone who recognizes the woman or the vehicle shown in surveillance images is urged to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers through the hotline or by submitting an anonymous tip online.
