Jackson police are seeking two individuals, a female (l) and a male (r), who robbed the Zales jewelry store at the Jackson Premium Outlets, Route 537, on June 29. JACKSON — As of July 5, police were continuing their search for the two individuals who robbed a Jackson jewelry store of merchandise valued at $200,000 on the evening of June 29.
The armed robbery occurred at the Zales jewelry store in the Jackson Premium Outlets at the intersection of Route 537 and Route 571, Jackson.
Jackson police Capt. David Newman told the Tri-Town News on July 1 that the two people who are being sought by law enforcement authorities entered the jewelry store at about 8:30 p.m. June 29.
By that estimate, the robbery took less than 15 minutes to pull off.
According to a press release from the Jackson Police Department, police were called to the store at 8:42 p.m. Officer Donald Lasko responded to the scene.
Police gave the following account of the robbery: Two individuals, a man and a woman, entered the jewelry store and said they wanted to look at engagement rings.
At some point after asking for assistance with the rings, the male pulled a gun on the two employees who were in the store and forced them into the back storage room.
According to the account of the robbery given to police, the employees said they were instructed by the suspects to wait in the storage room until the suspects fled the premises.
According to Newman, there is no description of a vehicle the suspects may have used to flee from the scene.
The suspects stole merchandise from the jewelry store that police said was valued at $200,000. Of that total, it is believed that mostly rings were stolen, he said.
This is believed to be one of the largest thefts of merchandise in Jackson history, according to Newman.
When additional officers arrived at the scene, the outlet mall was blocked off and the area was searched. The suspects were not located at that time.
Police provided the following description of the suspects:
Suspect No. 1 was described as a black male with facial hair on his chin only, standing about 6 feet tall and weighing about 175 pounds, wearing a white polo-type shirt with dark blue horizontal stripes, jeans, dark sneakers with a white emblem, a fitted hat and sunglasses.
Suspect No. 2 was described as a black female, standing about 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weighing about 135 to 140 pounds, with long dark hair, wearing an oversized floppy hat, a gray shirt over a tank top, dark capri-style pants, and carrying a multicolor bag.
The investigation was led by Jackson Detective Sgt. Denis Campbell and police Sgt. Ray Milewski. Also responding to the scene was the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department K-9 and Criminalistics Identification units.
Anyone with information pertaining to the June 29 Zales robbery is asked to contact Jackson Detective Frank Mendez at 732-833-3009.