$150K Jewelry Theft Reported at Westfield Wheaton's JCPenney Store

SILVER SPRING, MD — Video was released Thursday by police in an effort to catch a robber who allegedly helped himself to $150,000 in jewelry from the JCPenney store at a local mall.

Montgomery County Police say the May 21 burglary happened before the store opened for business May 21 at Westfield Wheaton mall, 11160 Viers Mill Road in Silver Spring.

Detectives have released surveillance video and photographs of the suspect in hopes that the public can identify him.

The burglary was reported the morning of May 21 by a JCPenney employee who arrived to open the store.

Surveillance footage shows that at 3:19 a.m. that day, the suspect broke into the JCPenney store by throwing rocks and breaking the glass of the third floor, exterior door. Once inside the store, the suspect broke the glass of two jewelry display cases and stole all of the jewelry inside the cases.

Just seven minutes later, video footage shows the suspect leaving the store.

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Police say the robber was in the mall earlier during business hours.

Anyone who recognizes the suspect or has information about the burglary is asked to call police at 240-773-5530.

Tipsters can also call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or enter a tip online. Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information provided to them that leads to an arrest and/or indictment for this felony crime.

»Surveillance images of JCPenney burglary suspect, video courtesy of Montgomery County Police