Jewelry Thief Arrested In Frederick Smash & Grab Robbery
FREDERICK, Md. (WJZ) -- There are new developments in a smash and grab robbery in Frederick. Police say they have at least one suspect in custody.
Rochelle Ritchie has more on the arrest and the surveillance video from inside the store.
So far only one of the alleged robbers is in police custody. The thieves stole more than $150,000 worth of jewelry and it was all caught on camera.
Frederick City Police say one of the masked men in this surveillance video robbing Colonial Jewelers in downtown Frederick is now behind bars.
"Alonzo Meadows we quickly developed as our primary suspect based on the tag information and other descriptors," said Lt. Clark Pennington.
It took less than 30 seconds for Meadows, 31, of Fairfax and two other men to rob the store of more than $150,000 worth of high-end watches.
In the video, you see one of the culprits gripping a handgun tightly--pointing it at employees while another orders a scared woman to the ground. The third accomplice smashes the glass to get to the pricey jewelry, and before making their escape, one of the robbers sprays the room with pepper spray.
"I actually have a friend that works upstairs in the building above and I know he got pepper-sprayed and he came home with very red eyes," said Vickie Krolak.
All of this happened in the middle of the afternoon.
"We're just such a small little town you never expect any of this to happen right in the square and heart of Frederick," Tina Cline said.
A witness to the robbery was able to flag down police officers who were just a block away. Police chased the suspects on foot but couldn't catch them in time before they took off in a pickup truck. Officers were able to get the tag number and Thursday morning D.C. Police spotted Meadows driving the getaway vehicle.
Police are still on the hunt for the other suspects and locating the stolen jewelry.
"There's got to be a market for these watches somewhere. That's part of the investigation, that's what we are following up on," Lt. Pennington said.
Meadows does have a criminal history.
Colonial Jewelers is a family-owned business and has been part of the community for 60 years.
