‘Black Bin Crew’ Robbers Get 14-16 Years in Prison
The three men, who got their nickname because they’d toss the jewelry they stole into black plastic bins, were arrested back in August.

Rafael Flores Hernandez, 39, of Mexico, 44-year-old Pedro Garcia of Los Angeles, and Reyes Flores Higuera, 51, of Mexico, became known as the “Black Bin Crew” because they used black plastic bins or totes to stash the jewelry they stole, officials said.
They were arrested in August while in the midst of burglarizing a jewelry store in Zanesville, Ohio.
According to the Muskingum County (Ohio) Prosecutor’s Office, Hernandez, Garcia, and Higuera all pleaded guilty to felony charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and aggravated theft.
On Dec. 10, Muskingum County Judge Kelly Cottrill sentenced Hernandez to 16 1/2 years in prison in the state of Ohio, while Garcia and Higuera each got 14 years behind bars.
According to prosecutors, the trio’s crime spree began in May 2023 when they broke into a jewelry store in Illinois, smashed up the cases, and threw the jewelry in what would become their signature black bins.
The Jewelers’ Security Alliance warned of the crew in a December 2023 crime alert after they broke into a jewelry store in Suwanee, Georgia, early on the morning of Nov. 17.
The three men smashed the store’s showcases with a pickaxe, and stole high-end watches, engagement rings, and necklaces.
(Jewelers, JSA noted in the alert, should always store all of their merchandise out of sight overnight; whatever doesn’t fit in the vault should be locked up in a closet or drawers.)
Following the Suwanee robbery, Detective Caleb Martin with the Forsyth County (Georgia) Sheriff’s Office took an interest in the case, conducting what the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office described as a “dogged, one-man nationwide manhunt for the crew.”
Martin worked with JSA to track down details of other thefts, watch surveillance videos, and coordinate intelligence from other agencies.
In July 2024, he contacted the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office about the “Black Bin Crew,” and officers with the sheriff’s office and Zanesville Police Department began surveilling the trio, even placing a tracking device on their car.
Police also kept an eye on the local jewelry store they believed the crew would attempt to rob.
Around 4 a.m. on Aug. 1, the crew struck and officers, who were waiting nearby, moved in to arrest them.
The prosecutor’s office said Hernandez, Garcia, and Higuera had smashed the store’s showcases and had more than $170,000 worth of merchandise in their black bins when they were arrested.
All told, the three men are suspected of perpetrating more than 20 similar jewelry store smash-and-grab thefts in seven states across the Southwest and Midwest: Illinois, Maryland, Kentucky, North Carolina, Indiana, Ohio, and Georgia.
Each burglary lasted about 2 minutes and they made off with more than $3 million in jewelry total, the prosecutor’s office said.
The Latest

Sponsored by the Gemological Institute of America

The “Lumière Fine” collection was born from designer Alison Chemla’s interest in the transformative power of light.

Show off your spooky side with these 12 festive jewels.

The “Brilliant & Beyond” panel coincides with the “Love & Marriage” exhibition curated by Davis Jewelers in Louisville, Kentucky.


Consumers are feeling more optimistic about their present situation while the short-term future remains a little scary.

The company, which organizes a watch show in Geneva every spring, will bring a selection of watch brands to the 2026 Couture show in Vegas.

From sunlit whites to smoky whiskeys, introduce your clients to extraordinary diamonds in colors as unique as their love.

“The Modern Guide to Vintage Jewellery” follows the evolution of jewelry design from the ‘30s to the ‘80s with buying and styling advice.

For her annual Halloween story, Senior Editor Lenore Fedow explores the symbolism behind spiders, beetles, and other eerie insects.

Notable jewelry designers, members of the press, and retailers are up for an award at next year’s gala.

Leaders from Jewelers of America and National Jeweler discuss the gold price, tariffs, and more in this one-hour webinar.

After experiencing motherhood, growth, and loss, founder and designer Erin Sachse has created 10 irreplaceable jewels.

It is part of Sotheby’s “Royal & Noble Jewels” sale along with an ornate hair ornament and an old mine-cut light pink diamond ring.

The retailer, which has faced struggling sales in recent quarters, is looking to streamline its operations.

Hill Management Group will oversee, market, and produce next year’s spring show.

London-based investment firm Pemberton Asset Management acquired the auction house for an undisclosed amount.

The workshop will give attendees the chance to try out and ask questions about three different diamond verification instruments.

The footage shows two of the jewelry heist suspects descending from the second floor of the museum and then escaping via scooter.

Founder and designer Rosanna Fiedler looked to a vintage Cartier clutch when designing the sunlight-inspired drop earrings.

The luxury conglomerates faced a challenging Q3 amid geopolitical and economic tensions.

The struggling diamond mining company, which owns the historic Cullinan mine, has launched a rights issue to raise about $25 million.

The book details the journey of watches as symbols of hard-earned success in hip-hop for artists like 2Pac, Jay-Z, and more.

Alexis Vourvoulis, who most recently worked at Tiffany & Co., brings more than two decades of jewelry experience to her new role.

The superstar’s August engagement put the stamp of approval on an already hot engagement ring trend.

Retailers should offer classic styles with a twist that are a perfect fit for layered looks, experts say.

The nearly 7-carat fancy vivid purplish pink diamond could sell for around $9 million.
























