Jewelry robberies and armed thefts reported in New Jersey and Philadelphia

Authorities in the Mid-Atlantic region are investigating multiple high-value jewelry thefts and armed robberies. In New Jersey, a smash-and-grab robbery occurred at the Bloomingdale's in the Shops at Riverside mall. A suspect reportedly used a hammer to break a watch display and flee with an undisclosed amount of jewelry. This follows several other significant jewelry thefts in New Jersey cities including Bayonne, Woodbridge, and Perth Amboy.

In Philadelphia, police are responding to several distinct crime patterns. In Center City, investigators have identified 32-year-old Shakur Nichols as a suspect in a series of armed robberies where victims were targeted for high-end watches and gold chains, sometimes involving AR-style rifles. In the Frankford neighborhood, two masked men are sought for a daylight robbery at gunpoint. Additionally, detectives in Northeast Philadelphia are investigating a series of strong-arm robberies targeting women near banks, involving at least two suspects and multiple vehicles.