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St. Pete Police Suspect Miami Group In Jewelry Heist

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By Stephen Thompson of The Tampa Tribune and Rod Challenger of News Channel 8

Published: December 12, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - Authorities are looking for a group of thieves they say is responsible for a string of jewelry store break-ins throughout the Southeast, including one in St. Petersburg on Sunday that was captured on surveillance videotape.

In the burglary at Bond Diamonds at 2241 66th St. N., the front doors were smashed and four burglars ransacked jewelry cases, breaking the glass of cases and throwing jewelry into pillowcases.

The store's expensive pieces were locked in a vault, and the thieves didn't get those, said Marvin Shavlan, the store owner. The thieves' loot consisted of perhaps 125 items that ranged in value from $20 to $200 apiece, Shavlan said.

"I think the robbers were probably disappointed in their take because they got a minimal amount of merchandise," Shavlan said.

Authorities think the quartet are part of a large group that has committed similar burglaries from Maryland to Florida in the past few months, said Sgt. Gary Dukeman of the St. Petersburg Police Department.

They also are suspected in a burglary in August at Romay Jewelers on Beach Drive in St. Petersburg, Dukeman said.

"We believe there is a group operating or based out of Miami, using rental cars, high-end rental cars, Mercedes, Infinitis, BMWs, and are traveling throughout the state of Florida as well as into some of the other Southern, and Southeastern states," Dukeman said. "They seem to be working very well together."

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@tampatrib.com. Reporter Rod Challenger can be reached at (727) 536-8443 or rchallenger@wfla.com.

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