Borgata Robbery: Smash And Grab Theft Nets Thieves $500,000

The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City was robbed of at least $500,000 in a “smash and grab” heist late Monday night, according to Forbes.com

The website reports that three men walked up to the casino shopping center and, within minutes, smashed out several jewelry display cases and grabbed valuables before fleeing in a dark-colored vehicle with no visible license plates.

“What’s interesting is we’re seeing a big rash of ‘smash-and-grabs’ between New Jersey and Atlanta on the east coast,” Jewelers’ Security Alliance president John J. Kennedy told Forbes.  Kennedy’s agency provides crime data and assistance to the industry and law enforcement officials.

While ‘smash-and-grabs’ have long been prevalent, Kennedy added there now seems to be a trend toward thefts where culprits prefer such type of robberies over using a gun to rob a store.

“There seems to be more instances where a large number of males go into the store and smash the case and get out of there in 20 or 30 seconds rather than point a gun at a store owner,” he said.

Typically speaking ‘smash-and-grabs’ involve smashing a barrier, such as a display window or a showcase, grabbing valuables, and then making a quick getaway, without concern for setting off alarms or creating noise.  While the robbery at the Borgata was captured on surveillance video police have not spoken of any suspects.

JSA officials define such robberies as “three-minute burglaries,” which refers to the approximate time it takes to complete the theft. Such heists represent approximately 82.6 percent of the total number of burglaries experienced by the jewelry industry, according to JSA statistics. Total losses in 2012 from such thefts were estimated at $7 million with the average loss at approximately $22,000.

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