Trio Escapes in SUV After $800,000 Jewelry Heist at Jackson Heights Store in NYC

A police officer stands in front of Abid Jewelers in Jackson Heights, the scene of a jewelry heist on Friday evening. Photo: Narayan Dhungana

A jewelry store in Jackson Heights, New York, was robbed on Friday evening. At least three individuals dressed in black clothing fled the scene in a white SUV. The incident took place at Abid Jewelers on 74th Street.

According to police, the robbery occurred at approximately 6:20 p.m. Police informed NepYork.com  that three unknown individuals forced their way into the store by breaking the front window.

“It was reported to police that on Friday, December 6, 2024, at approximately 1820 hours, three unidentified individuals forcibly entered a jewelry store by  breaking the front window with sledge hammers, located at 37-40 74 Street. The individuals removed approximately $800,000 worth of jewelry,” said the NYPD.

“The individuals then fled the location in a  white suv eastbound on 74 Street. The suv was recovered  unoccupied on 72 Street and 35 Avenue.  No suspect descriptions are available at this time. There are no arrests and the investigation remains ongoing,” the NYPD told NepYork.com.

Police investigate the scene at Abid Jewelers in Jackson Heights, where robbers stole $800,000 worth of jewelry on Friday evening. Photo: Passang Sherpa

A large police team arrived at Abid Jewelers shortly after the incident. Eyewitnesses reported that the robbers shattered the shop’s glass with hammers before looting it. Police officers were seen at the scene until late in the evening.

There has been a noticeable increase in robberies targeting businesses run by South Asians in and around Jackson Heights. In late March, a Nepali-speaking mobile phone store in Jackson Heights was also robbed.

$15,000 in cash and 100 phones were stolen from the mobile phone store. Police reported that two unidentified gunmen entered the store at around 8:30 p.m. and carried out the robbery.

Stores owned by Nepalis and Nepali-speaking individuals in Jackson Heights have experienced violent robberies in the past. A Nepali mobile phone store in the area was also targeted in a similar robbery prior to these incidents.