JACKSON — For the second time in just over four months, the Zales jewelry store at the Jackson Premium Outlets was targeted for the theft of merchandise. In the latest incident at the store, a lone man got away with merchandise valued at $50,000 on Nov. 1.
According to police, a man entered the jewelry store just before 10 a.m. After approaching an employee, the man said he was robbing the store and said that if the staff complied with his directions, no one would be harmed.
The employee subsequently handed over the contents of a jewelry case. Police said it is not known if the suspect was carrying a weapon at the time of the crime.
Police believe the man left the outlet mall in a white minivan that was last seen heading south on Route 571. The make and model of the minivan are unknown, but police believe the vehicle could have been a Dodge or a Chrysler.
The suspect was described as being a white male in his 20s, standing between 5 feet 8 inches and 5 feet 11 inches tall, with a stocky build and long sideburns.
At the time of the robbery the man was said to be wearing a blue sweatshirt, a black T-shirt, black sweatpants and a baseball cap with the New York Yankees insignia.
About $200,000 worth of merchandise was stolen from the same Zales jewelry store on June 28. Police labeled that crime as one of the largest thefts of merchandise in Jackson history.
According to police, the June 28 robbery occurred at about 8:30 p.m. when a man and a woman entered the store and told employees they wanted to look at engagement rings.
In a video released by police, the two suspects are seen sitting at a display case while employees begin removing items from the case.
Shortly after that, the man stands up and brandishes a weapon. The employees can then be seen placing merchandise into a bag being held by the woman.
Police said the two suspects fled the scene in a vehicle. No further information about the vehicle was provided. According to police, the investigation into the June 28 robbery is continuing, with potential leads pointing toward Pennsylvania.
The Tri-Town News reached out to a representative of the Zales corporation for comment, but that individual declined to comment on either robbery.
Police are asking anyone who may have information about either crime to call the Jackson tip line at 732-833-3032.