ColumnistsMay 26, 2026
The Key Mindset for Better Trade Show BuyingBuying discipline at trade shows starts with clarity about your inventory levels, Smith writes.
CrimeOct 26, 2018
Two Brooklyn Men Arrested in String of Jewelry Thefts
Police say the pair hit multiple stores across the Garden and Empire states.
Tony Newton, 56, (left) and Gerald Williams, 45, were arrested in Brooklyn, N.Y. and charged in a string of jewelry store burglaries. (Photo credit: Paramus Police Department)
Paramus, N.J.—The Paramus Police Department recently arrested two men they believe committed a string of jewelry store burglaries stretching from New Jersey’s Garden State Plaza mall to Albany, New York.
The Paramus Police Department said last week that 45-year-old Gerald Williams and 56-year-old Tony Newton, both of Brooklyn, N.Y., were arrested and charged with multiple counts of burglary and theft, plus possession of stolen property and shoplifting.
The pair’s first alleged theft happened earlier this year on Jan. 13 at Kay Jewelers at Garden State Plaza. Police said they responded to a reported burglary at the mall and found that the suspects had cut the front security gate to get into the store after-hours and ransacked the display cases.
Paramus Police Detective Nicholas Luciano of the Special Investigations Unit worked with other detectives to determine that the same two suspects committed at least three other burglaries at different Kay stores in the area and had stolen jewelry from Nordstrom at Garden State Plaza as well, police said. The value of the jewelry stolen in Paramus totaled more than $250,000.
During the investigation, Luciano reached out to the New York City Police Department for assistance, working with NYPD Sgt. Robert Olson over the following few months to review video tapes of burglaries committed across New Jersey and New York.
Police said they were able to identify a pattern of similar burglaries and jewelry thefts, including at two of the Kay stores in the Menlo Park Mall in Edison, New Jersey and “potentially several as far away as Albany, N.Y,” which is nearly 170 miles north in New York state. They also were able to identify a stolen vehicle that was used in the burglary of the Kay store in the Bergen Town Center mall in Paramus.
On Sept. 29, Paramus officers again were called to Garden State Plaza for a burglary, this time of a kiosk (police did not specify which kiosk) and said that they recognized one of the men on the video surveillance tape who allegedly had also been caught on camera in the Kay and Nordstrom jewelry thefts.
The following day, Luciano and Olson tracked down the stolen vehicle from the Bergen Town Center mall theft in Brooklyn. They found Newton inside and arrested him. Williams was taken into custody later in his Brooklyn home. Police said Newton and Williams are related though they
did not elaborate on the exact nature of the connection.
The 56-year-old Newton faces four counts of burglary, four counts of theft, two counts of possession of stolen property and one count of shoplifting, while Williams, 45, is charged with three counts of burglary, three counts of theft and one count of possession of stolen property and shoplifting.
The 56-year-old Newton faces four counts of burglary, four counts of theft, two counts of possession of stolen property and one count of shoplifting, while Williams, 45, is charged with three counts of burglary, three counts of theft and one count of possession of stolen property and shoplifting.
More on Crime
The Latest
Events & AwardsMay 26, 2026
12 JCK Talks Sessions to Add to Your Las Vegas ScheduleThe trade show’s education series returns, with sessions on retail trends, AI, watches, marketing, corporate responsibility, and more.
Events & AwardsMay 26, 2026
CBG Brings Its Curated Designer Project to Las Vegas ShowThe Curated Designer Project has expanded to highlight eight independent jewelry designers during CBG’s Las Vegas show.
Brought to you by
All Eyes on Gold Prices. Alternatives to Look For. And What to BEWARE of in VegasAs gold prices rise, today’s retailers are looking for alternatives at prices that will appeal to wider audiences.
TrendsMay 26, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: A Cooldown Is ComingBring a cool tone to your summer jewelry with these white metal pieces.
Weekly QuizMay 21, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Events & AwardsMay 22, 2026
Instore Buys JA New York ShowThe deal closed this week, which means Instore will produce the JA NY show slated to take place this fall.
FinancialsMay 22, 2026
Richemont’s Jewelry Brands Lead the Charge in Q4The company’s jewelry sales were up in Q4 and the fiscal year, with Richemont raising prices in part because of the cost of gold.
Brought to you by
How Modern Training Is Becoming a Competitive Advantage for Jewelry RetailersWith the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.
CollectionsMay 22, 2026
Leigh Maxwell Celebrates 5 Years at Couture With ‘Bauble’ CollectionThe “Bauble” capsule collection of colorful one-of-a-kinds includes our Piece of the Week, the “Bauble” earrings, featuring rose zircon.
MajorsMay 22, 2026
Stuller’s New Packaging, Display Catalog Is Out The updated catalog has a newly dedicated section for gift wrapping.
PodcastsMay 21, 2026
Episode 5: Sotheby’s Frank Everett Puts the Auction Market in PerspectiveEverett covers colored stones’ surging popularity, the mellow return of the “Mellon Blue,” and his “The Devil Wears Prada” doppelgänger.
IndependentsMay 21, 2026
Springer’s Jewelers’ New Flagship Will Serve Next-Gen Luxury ShoppersFourth-generation CEO Lilly Mullen wants to emphasize experience, connection, and personalized service.
Events & AwardsMay 21, 2026
JA Announces Nina Pugliese Memorial ScholarshipThe new award, created in partnership with Henne Jewelers, honors the late designer’s legacy through supporting jewelry education.
SourcingMay 21, 2026
Botswana, Angola Join WFDBThe addition of the diamond-producing countries as nation affiliated members broadens the federation’s global representation, WFDB said.
IndependentsMay 20, 2026
Adornment & Theory’s New Store Feels Like Home Designer Viviana Langhoff has realized her dream of owning a space for her Chicago jewelry store that looks and feels like her brand.
Events & AwardsMay 20, 2026
Here Is Couture’s 2026 Education Lineup The sessions will run from Friday, May 29, to Sunday, May 31, with one being a live taping of an episode of Couture’s podcast.
Lab-GrownMay 20, 2026
Savannah Friedkin Jewelry Names New CEOFormer Stephanie Gottlieb Fine Jewelry executive Morgan P. Richardson is joining the lab-grown diamond jewelry brand.
WatchesMay 19, 2026
Here’s the AP x Swatch Pocket Watch That Caused PandemoniumThe $400 pocket watch is a blend of Audemars Piguet’s iconic eight-sided Royal Oak and Swatch’s unserious Pop watches from the ‘80s.
CollectionsMay 19, 2026
Chris Ploof’s New Collection Makes an Ancient Metal ModernWith gold prices on the rise, the “Modern Electrum” collection uses an alternative, non-tarnishing metal alloy composed of gold and silver.
IndependentsMay 19, 2026
Ellen and Michael Fruchtman Retire, Sell Marketing Agency Fruchtman Marketing has new owners, Erin Moyer-Carballea and Manuel Carballea, and will relocate to Miami.
ColumnistsMay 19, 2026
Peter Smith: The (Mostly) Immutable Sales TruthsIn a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Smith lists 10 time-tested principles about sales that still ring true.
ColumnistsMay 18, 2026
Edahn Golan: What a K-Shaped Economy Means for Fine JewelryIn a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Golan spells out how the growing economic divide in the U.S. is reshaping the market.
CollectionsMay 18, 2026
Foundrae’s New Collection Taps Into JoyThe “Limitless Expansion of Joy and Hope” collection evokes summer through colored gemstones and motifs of butterflies and florals.
CollectionsMay 18, 2026
Hancocks London Acquires Historic ‘Inchiquin’ EmeraldThe jewel, circa 1890, is from the late Victorian era and was owned by descendants of the last high king of Ireland.
Events & AwardsMay 18, 2026
Here Are the 2026 JCK Industry Fund Grant Recipients This is what the nine recipients plan to do with the funds.
AuctionsMay 15, 2026
American Collector Ponies Up Almost $17K for John Wayne’s RingThe Western star’s 14-karat gold signet ring sold for six times its low estimate following a bidding war at U.K. auction house Elmwood’s.
Events & AwardsMay 15, 2026
JA, MJSA To Sponsor Roundtable at TJSThe discussion, "Rebuilding the Jewelry Workforce," will take place on Saturday, May 16, in Troy, Michigan.
