South Jersey Thief Gets Away with $187,000 Worth of Jewelry

New Jersey State Police are on the hunt for a thief who stole $187,000 in jewels from three different South Jersey jewelry stores.

The suspect reportedly made off with goods from jewelers in Marlton and Hainesport, Burlington County, and Haddon Heights, Camden County over the last few weeks.

David Arlen, the owner of David Arlen Jewelers in Hainesport, said the thief pretended to be interesting in purchasing an engagement ring, telling 6abc.com, 'he had a picture on his phone of his girlfriend that was to be his fiancé so we could see what type of jeweler she wore'.

The man then fled the store with two diamond rings worth $20,000.

As for Billig Jewelers in Marlton, the same suspect brazenly made off with $77,000 in merchandise, and nearly $100,000 in jewelry from Michael's Jewelers in Haddon Heights (the latter of which is offering a $5,000 reward for info leading to an arrest). All businesses just trying to make ends meet in the middle on the COVID-19 pandemic.

The thief is described as a black male, 5'9 tall. Surveillance video from one of the jewelry stores shows him wearing a red hoodie, denim jeans with a belt with an 'M' emblem, a black beanie, and black face covering. However, he was reportedly last seen in a grey zip-up jacket with a Puma and BMW emblem, and wearing a gold watch on his left wrist according to 6abc. He has been witnessed escaping the jewelry stores in a black BMW.

Anyone with information regarding the suspect or the thefts should contact New Jersey State Police at njsp.org.

SOURCES: 6abc.com; New Jersey State Police/Facebook