Interstate Jewelry Heist

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz and Zanesville Police Chief Scott Comstock held a joint press conference today to discuss details in reference to a recent jewelry store robbery attempt.

Local authorities were contacted by the Forsyth County, Georgia Sheriff’s Office on Monday, July 22, in regards to an investigation of a multi-state burglary ring that identified Zanesville’s, Kay Jewelers store as a possible target.

“August 1st, suspects were in the area of Zanesville and it was approximately 3:58 in the morning,” Comstock said. “And our coordinated efforts between the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office and Zanesville Police Department detectives and patrol officers moved in on them when they entered the parking lot of Kay’s Jeweler. The suspects had approached the back of the store, forced entry within a matter of seconds and entered the store. At that time everyone mobilized and moved in.”

The three suspects were apprehended without incident and taken to the Zanesville City Jail to await formal charges.

“They had entered the building, already began damaging numerous, different showcases and were in custody of over $160,000 of jewelry, ready to remove from the building.”  Comstock said. “Two of the three suspects were illegal immigrants and should not have been in the United States to begin with. All had extensive criminal histories, multiple aliases and criminal ties to California and other activities throughout the country.”

Lutz noted that the cooperation between the multiple law enforcement agencies during the 11-day investigation is what prevented the robbery and led to the pre-dawn arrests.