CrimeDec 11, 2024
Former Tiffany & Co. Factory Supervisor Sentenced for Stealing Precious Metals CrimeDec 17, 2024
‘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.
Last week, a judge in Zanesville, Ohio, sentenced the three men known as the “Black Bin Crew” to 10-plus years in prison each, the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office said. (Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock)
Zanesville, Ohio—Three men wanted in a string of jewelry store burglaries spanning seven states will spend between 14 and 16 years in prison, the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office announced last week.
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.)
Related stories will be right here …
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.
More on Crime
The Latest
MajorsAug 01, 2025
Jewelers Mutual Names Mike Alexander as President The insurance company’s previous president and CEO, Scott Murphy, has split his role and will continue as CEO.
SourcingAug 01, 2025
Gemfields’ Auction Revenue Drops 50% in H1The nearly six-month pause of operations at its Kagem emerald mine earlier this year impacted the miner’s first-half results.
MajorsAug 01, 2025
Helzberg President Julie Yoakum Moves Over to Signet JewelersThe addition of Yoakum, who will lead Kay and Peoples, was one of three executive appointments Signet announced Thursday.
Brought to you by
Taking the Moment Head On: How Rio Grande Champions the Present & Future of Fine JewelryAs a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.
CollectionsAug 01, 2025
Piece of the Week: Hernsdorf’s ‘Tears of Aphrodite’ NecklaceThe necklace uses spinel drops to immortalize the moment Aphrodite’s tears mixed with her lover Adonis’ blood after he was fatally wounded.
Weekly QuizJul 31, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SourcingJul 31, 2025
De Beers Records $189M First-Half Loss The diamond miner and marketer warned last week that it expected to be in the red after significantly cutting prices in Q2.
Events & AwardsJul 31, 2025
These Are the 2025 CASE Award WinnersJewelers of America’s 35th annual design contest recognized creativity, artistry, style, and excellence.
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench JewelersThe Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.
IndependentsJul 31, 2025
Matthew Tratner Takes Over as CBG President Tratner succeeds Andie Weinman, who will begin stepping back from the buying group’s day-to-day operations.
Policies & IssuesJul 30, 2025
Tariff on India Will Be 25%, Trump Says The president made the announcement via Truth Social Wednesday, adding that India also will face a penalty for its dealings with Russia.
FinancialsJul 30, 2025
Kering's Jewelry Brands Resilient As H1 Sales Slide 16%The luxury titan’s star brand Gucci continued to struggle amid a "tough" environment.
WatchesJul 30, 2025
Peek Inside Zadok Jewelers’ New Rolex Showroom in AustinIts opening marks the completion of the retailer’s new 11,000-square-foot store in the Texas capital.
SurveysJul 30, 2025
Consumer Confidence Ticks Up in JulyRespondents shared concerns about tariffs and commentary on the “Big Beautiful Bill.”
SourcingJul 30, 2025
Rob Bates to Release Latest Book in His ‘Diamond District Mystery’ Series“Making a Killing in Diamonds” tells the story of Mimi Rosen, the disappearance of a scientist, and the murder of lab-grown diamond CEO.
EditorsJul 29, 2025
Out & About: Visiting Tacori’s Design Studio in LASenior Editor Lenore Fedow learned a lot when she took a behind-the-scenes factory tour with the jewelry brand earlier this year.
Events & AwardsJul 29, 2025
Melee The Show Welcomes 15 New DesignersThe first-time exhibitors, set to debut at the New York City show, share a devotion to craftsmanship, storytelling, and material integrity.
SourcingJul 29, 2025
Auctim to Offer 7.3M+ Carats of Rough EmeraldsThe online auction house’s September sale will feature rough Brazilian emeralds of various qualities.
MajorsJul 29, 2025
Alexis Padis Re-Elected AGS Board President She’ll lead an executive committee consisting of President-Elect Bryan Moeller, Mitchell Clark, Bill Farmer, and Larry Rickert.
Policies & IssuesJul 28, 2025
U.S.-EU Come to Agreement on Tariffs Announced Sunday, the deal will set the tax on goods imported into the United States from the European Union at 15 percent.
CollectionsJul 28, 2025
Nanis Brings a New Palette to ‘Ipanema’A new edition of the Italian brand’s “Ipanema” collection has debuted with gemstones that evoke Brazil’s breathtaking views.
MajorsJul 28, 2025
The 1916 Company Partners with ‘Shark Tank’ Star’s Watch Insurance PlatformThe retailer will refer its customers to WonderCare, founded by venture capitalist and watch collector Kevin O’Leary.
IndependentsJul 28, 2025
Sissy’s Log Cabin to Open Flagship in Arkansas The jeweler’s largest store yet is set to open in Little Rock next fall.
CollectionsJul 25, 2025
Piece of the Week: Jemma Wynne’s ‘Forme’ NecklaceAnne Hathaway was seen wearing the toggle necklace three times while filming scenes for “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”
Events & AwardsJul 25, 2025
Pre-Registration Open for September Hong Kong ShowJewellery & Gem World Hong Kong is scheduled for Sept. 15 to 21, and buyer pre-registration will be available until Sept. 7.
FinancialsJul 25, 2025
LVMH Sales Slip in H1 Amid ‘Prevailing Uncertainties’Renovations at Tiffany & Co. stores ate into profits in the company’s watch and jewelry division.
Events & AwardsJul 24, 2025
2 Retailers to Receive 2026 Gem Award for Lifetime AchievementMark and Candy Udell of London Jewelers will receive the honor at the 24th annual Gem Awards next March.
SourcingJul 24, 2025
De Beers Sees Diamond Production Sink 36% in Q2 While struggles continue at the mining and trading end of the pipeline, consumer demand for diamond jewelry is holding steady.
