WASHINGTON – Since February, jewelry stores in Frederick, Md., Chevy Chase and northern Virginia have been struck by brazen smash-and-grab heists.
A Kay jewelry store at Tyson’s Corner Mall is the latest, but this time police have made an arrest.
“Five men entered this store, smashed several display cases and took an undisclosed amount of jewelry,” says Officer Bud Walker, spokesman for the Fairfax County Police Department.
The suspects wore hooded sweatshirts, but a security guard gave police a description.
“Responding officers were able to locate one of the suspects and took him into immediate custody,” Walker says.
The suspect is 22-year-old Brandon Bowditch, of Hamtramck, Mich. He’s been charged with robbery.
Among the sites hit by smash-and-grab thefts are jewelry stores in Frederick, Md., and Arlington County in February; a jewelry store at Fair Oaks Mall in Fairfax last month; and the Cartier store in Chevy Chase in April. Walker says the police are “looking into the strong possibility” that Tuesday’s crime is connected with others.
Fairfax Police say they are coordinating their investigation with police throughout the area.
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See video showing the incident below, courtesy of ABC 7. WARNING: This video contains language that some may find offensive.
