New Details Released In $1M Jewelry Heist From Ocean County Mall Store

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Toms River police have identified vehicles possibly involved in the $1 million jewelry burglary from Venzio Jewelers in the Ocean County Mall.

The police department released new details into the burglary, which happened between 8 p.m. on March 27 and 10 a.m. on March 28. The thief or thieves cut a hole through the wall from an empty store next door into the rear office of the jewelry store, Bachonski said. The phone and alarm cables were cut and the suspect or suspects used a torch to break into the safe and take the jewelry, he said.

Toms River Lt. Gene Bachonski said the investigation found a rear door at the vacant store, which led directly to the outside of the mall, was closed but unlocked. There were no pry marks or evidence of forced entry, he said.

The thief or thieves cut a hole through the wall separating the vacant store from the office of Venzio Jewelers, he said. They then used a torch on the door of the safe to open it, Bachonski said.

The thief or thieves also made significant efforts to avoid detection while they were in the office, including covering the sprinkler heads with tape to prevent them from being triggered by smoke from the torch and putting rags at the bottom of a door to minimize smoke exposure into the showroom, Bachonski said.

They also ripped the alarm panel off the wall and deactivated it, he said.

Police have obtained surveillance video and have identified vehicles of interest, Bachonski said, but are not releasing either at this time, he said.

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