Thieves Use their Feet to Break Into Jewelry Store

By JCK Online Staff -- JCK Online, 12/22/2006 9:08:00 AM

Thieves found their way inside a jewelry store in Wadsworth, Ohio, by kicking through the wall after breaking into a barber shop next door, The Associated Press reports.

The thieves stole about half-million dollars worth of merchandise from Artistic Jeweler, co-owner Stacey Bobbs reportedly said.

Police reportedly discovered the break-in during the early hours of Dec. 18 after getting unusual emergency calls from other stores in the area.

Police reportedly said that the calls were possibly triggered automatically because thieves cut the phone lines. All dispatchers could hear on the calls was static, and officers went out and discovered that phone lines had been cut on a utility pole in the area, police said.

Officers found a drilled-out front door lock at Gimme a Haircut, next to Artistic Jeweler, the AP reports.

The plasterboard wall between the two stores was kicked in, opening a 16-inch space between the metal studs, John Martino, owner of Gimme A Haircut, reportedly said.

The thieves took the jewelry store safe and smashed display cases, Bobbs reportedly said.

Police reportedly arrested a man seen running across a nearby street and he was charged with possession of criminal tools. One box of jewelry was recovered in a field behind the store.

Bobbs said the inventory was insured, and suppliers are providing new merchandise for holiday sales.

Wadsworth is 12 miles southwest of Akron.