Jewelry thief tackled by military man, still escapes
EVESHAM TOWNSHIP, N.J. - A thief remains on the run after trying to steal up to $26,000 in watches from a T.J. Maxx department store in southern New Jersey.
The incident, which happened Jan. 19, was captured on surveillance tape at the department store in Evesham Township.
The station says a man wearing a ski mask entered the
store, walked to the high-end watch counter, then threw a large rock through the glass case and put close to $26,000 worth of watches in a bag, and started running away.
As the suspect took off, an active member of the U.S. Air Force, who witnessed the robbery, tackled the suspect to the ground, which resulted in a struggle between the two.
But the suspect broke free and got away, leaving behind the cache of watches.
According to CBS Philly, while police appreciate the Good Samaritan’s actions, they say they would prefer anyone involved in a similar situation to get a description of the thief, but not mix it up with him.
“It’s definitely something we do not recommend. It’s not worth getting hurt, it’s not worth risking your life or someone else’s life for property,” Lt. Joseph Friel of the Evesham Township Police Department said.