CrimeMar 21, 2024
Sparks Fly as Burglars Lose Safe on California Freeway CrimeApr 02, 2024
2 Suspects Arrested After Attempted Robbery, Kidnapping
The men, along with a third suspect who remains at large, allegedly tried to rob a jewelry store in Guntersville, Alabama.
Authorities in Alabama arrested two men in connection with the attempted armed robbery of Griffins Jewelers of Guntersville. (Image courtesy of the Guntersville Police Department’s Facebook page)
Guntersville, Ala.—Authorities arrested two men in connection with the attempted armed robbery of a jewelry store in Alabama following an hours-long standoff.
The men are also suspected of kidnapping two women prior to the robbery.
The Guntersville Police Department responded to an armed robbery call at Griffins Jewelers of Guntersville at 10:23 a.m. on March 28, according to a statement from the department.
Three individuals had entered the store while armed and attempted to rob the location, but the manager fired a weapon at the robbers, causing them to flee.
Witnesses told police the suspects left in a white van headed southbound on U.S. Highway 431.
Shortly after the attempted robbery, the police department received a seemingly unrelated call about two missing women being at a nearby Lowe’s.
When officers arrived, they saw the vehicle involved in the jewelry store robbery in the Lowe’s parking lot.
They found the two missing women from nearby Brighton, Alabama, inside.
Related stories will be right here …
The men are also suspected of kidnapping two women prior to the robbery.
The Guntersville Police Department responded to an armed robbery call at Griffins Jewelers of Guntersville at 10:23 a.m. on March 28, according to a statement from the department.
Three individuals had entered the store while armed and attempted to rob the location, but the manager fired a weapon at the robbers, causing them to flee.
Witnesses told police the suspects left in a white van headed southbound on U.S. Highway 431.
Shortly after the attempted robbery, the police department received a seemingly unrelated call about two missing women being at a nearby Lowe’s.
When officers arrived, they saw the vehicle involved in the jewelry store robbery in the Lowe’s parking lot.
They found the two missing women from nearby Brighton, Alabama, inside.
Brighton police said the women, Alma Nestor and Rosaneli Castro, were parked by the Bessemer Super Highway, where they sell water and food to those heading to work in the early morning hours, according to a local news report.
Around 5:30 a.m., two men approached the van, forced the women inside, and drove off with them. The abduction and carjacking were caught on surveillance videos.
The women did not know their abductors, said police. They got in contact with their family members, who alerted the police.
The women and their van had been left in the parking lot after the attempted robbery, and they were unharmed.
The suspected robbers were identified as Jonathan Banks of Guntersville and Andre Burgin of Midfield, Alabama, according to Guntersville police.
Guntersville police could not be reached for comment about the status of the third suspect.
On March 29, police obtained warrants for the two men for the robbery of the jewelry store.
The Guntersville police contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Birmingham Division to ask for help, believing the men to be in the Birmingham area.
The suspects were found after barricading themselves inside the attic of a local residence, said police.
It took several hours for tactical teams to remove the men, turning them over to Guntersville police.
The men were booked into Marshall County Jail on felony warrants.
Guntersville police noted that a number of law enforcement agencies were involved in the investigation and apprehension of the two suspects.
The investigation is ongoing.
More on Crime
The Latest
MajorsJul 26, 2024
Diamonds Direct Opens Store in AtlantaIt’s the Signet-owned banner’s first location in Georgia.
TrendsJul 26, 2024
Piece of the Week: Bea Bongiasca’s ‘Double Loop’ EarringsCommemorate “brat summer” with these green hoops.
EditorsJul 26, 2024
Out & About: A Dispatch from the Nation’s Smallest StateEditor-in-Chief Michelle Graff returns from Rhode Island with thoughts about in-store shopping and a trends report.
Brought to you by
The End of an Era? Lab-Grown Diamonds' Journey Towards Price StabilityAs the demand for lab-grown diamond jewelry may still be increasing, the most notable change we are likely to see is price stabilization.
Supplier BulletinJul 25, 2024
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionSponsored by Gemological Institute of America
Weekly QuizJul 25, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
TechnologyJul 25, 2024
Amazon, BBB Sue Website Allegedly Peddling Fake Reviews They claim ReviewServiceUSA.com was selling both positive and negative reviews of products and businesses.
SourcingJul 25, 2024
De Beers’ H1 Revenue Falls 21% in ‘Weak’ MarketLab-grown diamond sales in the United States and ongoing economic challenges in China are impacting natural diamond demand.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionGIA®’s most advanced microscope has new features to optimize greater precision and comfort.
IndependentsJul 25, 2024
Store Designer Ruth Mellergaard DiesA longtime member of IJO, she’s remembered for her passion for design, learning, and environmentalism.
FinancialsJul 25, 2024
Boucheron, Pomellato Post Double-Digit Growth in Q2 The gains come amid a tough time for parent company Kering, which saw sales slide 11 percent in the first half of the year.
MajorsJul 25, 2024
Shane Co. Partners With Kids In Need Foundation to Donate 7,200 BackpacksThe fine jewelry retailer filled backpacks with back-to-school essentials for students in 13 states.
FinancialsJul 24, 2024
LVMH’s First-Half Jewelry, Watch Sales Dip 5%Tiffany & Co. is focusing on its “iconic” collections while the company has made changes at the top at TAG Heuer and Hublot.
MajorsJul 24, 2024
See Chaumet’s Paris Olympic Medals Inspired by its High JewelryThe Parisian brand is the first jewelry company in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to design the medals.
MajorsJul 24, 2024
Jewelers Mutual Acquires Pawnbroker Insurance ProviderUnion Life & Casualty will join JM Insurance Agency Partners, expanding the provider’s pawnbroker coverage.
MajorsJul 24, 2024
Ben Bridge Announces 2024 Lonia Tate Scholarship WinnerLos Angeles-based Bradlei Smith was selected for this year’s award.
ColumnistsJul 23, 2024
Peter Smith: The Case for Optimism in Sales In his latest column, Smith shares multiple reasons why people who look at the glass as being hall full often make better salespeople.
SourcingJul 23, 2024
De Beers’ Production Drops 15% in Q2The company also reported the $150 million sale of an iron ore royalty right, part of its ongoing effort to divest “non-core” assets.
IndependentsJul 23, 2024
Long’s Jewelers Is Giving Away a Luxury Cape Cod VacationThe giveaway is part of the New England jeweler’s summer bridal event.
CollectionsJul 23, 2024
Guzema Debuts ‘Flower Power’ CampaignThe ad features three celebrity florists creating floral sculptures while wearing jewelry by Guzema.
Policies & IssuesJul 23, 2024
Diamonds Do Good Announces Its 2024 Entrepreneurship Grant WinnersThe grant provided a total of $100,000 to support 13 entrepreneurs from diamond communities in Africa and India.
Policies & IssuesJul 22, 2024
JVC’s Elyssa Jenkins-Pérez Joins RJCThe organization also announced Effie Marinos as its new specialist advisor for technical standards, as well as four other appointments.
SourcingJul 22, 2024
AWDC Names Karen Rentmeesters as CEORentmeesters has served as interim CEO since April following former CEO Ari Epstein’s resignation.
IndependentsJul 19, 2024
Longtime D.C. Jeweler Brian Mann Dies at 70Mann, whose family’s jewelry store was located inside the Pentagon, is remembered for being a thoughtful champion of the industry.
IndependentsJul 19, 2024
The 1916 Company Opens New Tudor BoutiqueThe 500-square-foot boutique is located in Denver’s Cherry Creek Shopping Center.
CollectionsJul 19, 2024
Piece of the Week: Messika’s ‘So Move Max’ NecklaceDance all night long with the “So Move Max” set’s necklace.
WatchesJul 18, 2024
TAG Heuer, Hublot Will Have New CEOs Luxury giant LVMH is reshuffling the leadership in its watches division.
MajorsJul 18, 2024
New Etsy Campaign Prioritizes Creators Amid BacklashSellers and shoppers have spoken out against a rise in mass-produced merchandise on the platform meant to highlight handmade goods.
