Two men whom authorities say stole at least $28,000 in jewelry from three Meijer stores Dec. 8–including the Oxford Township Meijer on North Lapeer Road–were arrested later that day and are now in custody at the Oakland County Jail.
The suspects were identified as a 20-year-old man whose last known addresss was in Davisburg and a 43-year-old Waterford man. They were arrested by Waterford Police at a Waterford residence.
The two are expected to be arraigned once further information is gathered from detectives, said Sergeant Randy Praski, of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Oxford Twp. Substation.
The two suspects are alleged to have stolen approximately $8,000 in rings from the Oxford Township Meijer and $20,000 in jewelry from the Rochester Hills Meijer
The Leader was unable to learn by press time how much was stolen from the Meijer in Waterford.
Police believe the men stole about 17 rings from the Oxford store.
Praski said one probably served as a lookout while the other stole the rings.
He speculated the two suspects stole the jewelry to make some quick cash by selling the gold. The sergeant added it’s possible the pair may have hit the Rochester Hills store around 3 a.m., the Oxford
store around 4:45 a.m., then the Waterford store sometime between 6-7 a.m.
Robbing three stores in one day suggests the suspected thieves were careless and greedy, in Praski’s opinion.
According to employees at the Oxford Township location, the two came in, went to the jewelry department, leaned onto the glass display case and looked at the rings. One employee told police he asked the pair if they needed help, only to have the men walk away.
Police say the two men soon returned and another employee saw them looking at the rings. A short time later, an employee found the jewelry case broken into, a screwdriver on the floor and the rings missing.
The men were spotted running toward the exit and leaving the store.
Police were unable to apprehend them at that time, but the screwdriver with a partial palm print was taken as evidence. Store officials also provided police with surveillance videos and photos.