Another Jewel Thief Caught After Wayne Heist, Police Say

WAYNE, NJ — The remaining suspects of a Wayne jewelry store heist have been caught, according to police.

On Tuesday, just before 7:30 p.m., Massola Jewelers in the Valley Ridge Shopping Center on Preakness Road was robbed by multiple people, police say. The robbery occurred roughly an hour after the store closed for the day.

One of the suspects, who injured himself during the heist, was arrested with the help of Haledon and Paterson police departments.

Moments after the robbery, authorities pulled over a Chevy Malibu that was seen fleeing the area. In the back passenger seat was a man bleeding and trying to cover his face, police said.

The Malibu almost immediately fled from the police, and a chase ensued, officials say. The car soon crashed, and all the occupants ran away on foot, police say.

Police caught the bleeding passenger, identified as Terrance D. Drakeford, 33, of Paterson, and arrested him for the robbery.

Inside the Malibu were sledgehammers, stolen jewelry, broken glass, and gloves, authorities said.

Drakeford is charged with robbery, burglary, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, theft, possession of burglary tools, conspiracy to commit robbery, and criminal mischief.

Two other suspects remained on the loose, until now, police say.

A second suspect was identified by investigators as Wyzier Peterson, 28, also of Paterson.

Peterson is suspected of escaping the jewelry store in a stolen Hyundai Tucson, which was found abandoned a few blocks away after the robbery.

On Thursday, Peterson was arrested and charged with the same crimes as Drakeford.

Investigators are still searching for additional robbery suspects. Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Wayne Police Detective Bureau at 973-633-3530.