Surveillance video reveals smash-and-grab theft in N.J.

PARAMUS, N.J. – A smash-and-grab jewelry heist last week was captured on surveillance video, and now police are looking for those responsible, reports CBS New York.

In the video, a stolen Ford F-350 pick-up truck crashes through the side windows of The Jewelry Center in Paramus, N.J. at 6:44 a.m. on Feb. 14, breaking the wall, windows and glass cases.

Once inside, the burglars used a steel cable to steal a large safe filled with nearly $250,000 worth of jewelry from the store and a backhoe to load the bounty into the truck bed.

Both the Ford and the backhoe were reported stolen from Essex County and a construction site in Paramus, respectively.

The nation’s largest jewelry retailer, The Jewelry Center has more than 40 independent merchants.

“The way they took that safe out of here was like a little rag doll or something – it just came out,” said Abe Gelin, who shares the jewelry kiosk where the robbery occurred. “So I’m sure they knew what they were doing and what type of car they need to get it out of here.”

Other jewelry vendors in the area are increasing security measures.

“The way it happened so fast obviously makes you think twice about what you could do to prevent it, but unfortunately, if they’re going to come in, they’re going to come in no matter what you do,” Gelin said.