CrimeJul 07, 2023
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Texas Jeweler Offers $50K Reward for Armed Robbery Information
Two suspects robbed Boozer’s Jewelers of more than $1.7 million in jewels, according to owner Brad Boozer.
Two suspects robbed Boozer’s Jewelers in Waco, Texas, last month, getting away with an estimated $1.7 million worth of jewelry.
Waco, Texas—Brad Boozer of Boozer’s Jewelers in Waco, Texas, is offering a $50,000 reward out of his own pocket for information relating to the June armed robbery of his store.
According to the Waco Police Department, a call came in about the robbery around 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 17.
“There are two possible suspects: one male, one female. Both displayed weapons at the time of the robbery, taking an undisclosed amount of jewelry,” said a spokesperson for the Waco police in a statement.
In an interview with KWTX, Boozer estimated the loss at around $1.7 million in jewelry, amounting to 90 percent of his inventory.
The $50,000 reward is for information leading to the arrest of the two suspects and the recovery of the stolen merchandise.
Boozer said the two suspects walked in just before closing wearing masks.
They zip tied two employees while a third was forced to clear out the display cases. The robbery lasted around 18 minutes, he said.
The store has reopened, he said, but is operating at 25 percent capacity as Boozer works with vendors to refill the showcases.
Boozer also spoke with KWTX about the store’s new security measures and considerations.
“You hate to say it, but [with] every person walking in, especially with Texas being an open carry state, you have to be cognizant of who your audience is. We’ve implemented a few extra things and we’re doing all we can security wise, but you can only do so much in today’s environment,” said Boozer.
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According to the Waco Police Department, a call came in about the robbery around 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 17.
“There are two possible suspects: one male, one female. Both displayed weapons at the time of the robbery, taking an undisclosed amount of jewelry,” said a spokesperson for the Waco police in a statement.
In an interview with KWTX, Boozer estimated the loss at around $1.7 million in jewelry, amounting to 90 percent of his inventory.
The $50,000 reward is for information leading to the arrest of the two suspects and the recovery of the stolen merchandise.
Boozer said the two suspects walked in just before closing wearing masks.
They zip tied two employees while a third was forced to clear out the display cases. The robbery lasted around 18 minutes, he said.
The store has reopened, he said, but is operating at 25 percent capacity as Boozer works with vendors to refill the showcases.
Boozer also spoke with KWTX about the store’s new security measures and considerations.
“You hate to say it, but [with] every person walking in, especially with Texas being an open carry state, you have to be cognizant of who your audience is. We’ve implemented a few extra things and we’re doing all we can security wise, but you can only do so much in today’s environment,” said Boozer.
In a statement, the Jewelers’ Security Alliance said, “This armed robbery in Waco is part of a wave of armed robberies the industry is suffering throughout the U.S.”
JSA reiterated that the most important thing to do in an armed robbery is to cooperate and not resist.
“Resistance in the face of a drawn gun can result in death or injury to jewelers, employees or customers. Regular security meetings with staff discussing what to do in a robbery or in other crimes can improve the chances that the staff will not panic and act in a dangerous manner during a crime,” said JSA.
There were no injuries reported related to the robbery.
“The large losses from armed robberies, as in the Waco case, provide forceful evidence of the need and value of insurance,” added JSA.
Boozer did have insurance and is working with the insurance company as it conducts its own investigation, he said.
Waco Police said this is an ongoing investigation. No arrests have been made or charges filed for the incident as of Monday.
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