A man accused of stealing jewelry from Saslow's Inc. inside Monroe Crossing Mall ran toward a back exit as he fled the store, and Monroe Police are now offering a cash reward for information that leads to his arrest. Police are seeking the man seen in surveillance images.
Monroe Police shared the appeal for help on Facebook on Monday evening, asking the public to help identify the man seen in surveillance images tied to the case. According to the Monroe Police Department, anyone with information can contact Detective Horne at 704-282-4774, and tipsters have the option to remain anonymous.
Jewelry Store Targeted
Saslow's Inc. is a jewelry retailer with a location inside Monroe Crossing Mall.
Whether the theft will result in felony charges may hinge on the value of what was taken. Under North Carolina General Statutes § 14-72, property theft exceeding $1,000 is prosecuted as felony larceny, a Class H felony carrying the possibility of superior court proceedings and state prison time under structured sentencing guidelines, per legal analysis from Martine Law. Theft below that threshold is charged as a misdemeanor.
Not the Mall's First Jewelry Heist
This is not the first time a jewelry theft has rattled Monroe Crossing Mall. In August 2025, Monroe Police arrested 33-year-old Cameron McManus of Pageland, South Carolina, after overnight break-ins at multiple jewelry vendors inside the mall — including the Piercing Pagoda kiosk — led to roughly $45,000 in stolen merchandise, as reported by WCNC Charlotte. McManus was charged with felony breaking and entering and felony larceny after an alarm response led officers to the scene.
A National Pattern of Costlier Jewelry Crimes
The Saslow's theft also fits into a broader national trend. The Jewelers' Security Alliance reported in April 2026 that total financial losses from crimes against U.S. jewelry businesses hit $144.7 million in 2025, a 1.5% increase over the prior year even as total incidents fell 13% nationwide, according to JCK. The report also discussed demand for gold in connection with jewelry crime.
The same report put the figures for violence against jewelry-industry employees at 27.1% in 2025 and 16.9% the year before. It also reported that the share of robberies in which guns were displayed rose from 19.6% to 23.9%. Separately, the National Retail Federation's 2026 Impact of Retail Theft & Violence survey found that while shoplifting incidents dropped 12.4% nationwide between 2024 and 2025, repeat offenders and organized retail crime remain a top concern, with half of surveyed retailers naming repeat offenders as a primary safety threat.
Monroe Police Leadership
The Monroe Police Department is led by Chief Rhett Bolen.
Anyone who recognizes the man in the mall surveillance images is urged to come forward. Hoodline previously covered the earlier $45,000 mall jewelry heist.
