Sunday evening shoppers at a Parkway Village strip mall got an unwanted dose of drama when two men walked into Regency Jewelers, pretended to browse, then allegedly went to work on the display cases with hammers and took off with nearly $80,000 in jewelry, authorities say.
The smash-and-grab unfolded just after 5 p.m. A security guard pepper-sprayed one of the suspects in an effort to stop the robbery, but officials say the guard was assaulted as the pair bolted from the store. Surveillance images later released by investigators show both men in dark hoodies. One wore black-framed glasses and light-blue shoes. The shop sits on American Way near South Perkins Road in the Parkway Village shopping area, a corridor that has already been drawing police attention this year.
Police release images and seek tips
According to the Memphis Police Department, officers were dispatched to 4627 American Way at about 5:03 p.m. for a reported robbery. Investigators have circulated still images of the two suspects as part of an active investigation, along with detailed descriptions of their clothing.
The department’s notice asks anyone who might recognize the men, or who has security footage from the area around the time of the robbery, to contact Crime Stoppers. Detectives are especially interested in doorbell cameras, dash cams, or business surveillance that might have captured the suspects arriving or leaving.
How the smash-and-grab played out
As reported by Action News 5, the pair initially posed as customers before pulling out hammers, shattering glass display cases, and scooping out jewelry. They were in and out within minutes, leaving with roughly $80,000 in merchandise.
The station’s account lines up with details provided by police and includes the same surveillance image that Memphis officers have shared publicly.
Industry groups say losses are rising
National crime data for jewelers shows a worrying pattern. While the total number of incidents reported to the industry has gone up and down in recent years, overall dollar losses have climbed as more professional crews stage quick, high-value hits that sometimes involve pepper spray and blunt tools, according to the Jewelers' Security Alliance.
Security experts in the field say shops can help blunt these attacks with layered defenses, including locked display cases, security film on glass, and robust camera coverage inside and outside stores. Those measures are meant to slow thieves down and give investigators better material to work with later.
Parkway Village has seen repeat calls
The stretch around South Perkins has already seen its share of flashing lights this year. Local reporting has noted that the corridor has drawn repeated law-enforcement responses in recent months, with one June incident highlighting how a chase ends in crash after suspects tried to flee police.
Residents and business owners in the area have been urged to regularly check door-cam and dash-cam footage after incidents to help detectives stitch together timelines and track potential getaway routes.
Anyone with information or video of Sunday’s robbery is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 901-528-CASH, according to the Memphis Police Department. Detectives say they are continuing to follow leads and hope that someone will recognize the suspects’ clothing or the men in the released images and come forward.
