On April 11, gunmen invaded an apartment in Meriden, Conn., kidnapped two jewelry store employees, and subsequently stole more than $4 million worth of merchandise from their store.

The manager of Lenox Jewelry Store in Fairfield, Conn., and the other employee were not seriously injured in the crime. They were able to call 911 after freeing themselves from their restraints one minute after the robbers left the store.

Fairfield police say that the victims were taken from the Meriden apartment by four to five suspects wielding multiple firearms. They were then driven to the Fairfield jewelry store, forced to open it, and were restrained in the back of the store while the robbers raided the merchandise. The robbery lasted five minutes from the time of entry to the suspects’ exit. 

Lt. Mark Walerysiak of the Meriden Police Department said in a local news report that each of the suspects was wearing gloves and had a ski mask covering their faces. Authorities believe the suspects were communicating and coordinating their efforts during the entire event. The 2009 silver BMW the robbers stole from one of the victims was later found by police.

Fairfield detectives are working closely with Meriden Police and consulting with the FBI to determine if this robbery has any similarities to other robberies in the northeast. Video surveillance from the robbery is currently being reviewed.

JCK