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Crime & Safety

Updated: Lawrence Jewelry Store Robbed at Gunpoint

Merchandise worth a "significant" amount of money was stolen during today's holdup of the Hamilton Jewelers store. It is the second armed robbery of a jewelry store in Lawrence Township in two months.

Three men, at least one of whom was armed with a handgun, robbed the Hamilton Jewelers jewelry store at 2542 Brunswick Pike (Business Route 1) about 12:15 p.m. today (Monday, April 25).

The men, who are still being sought by authorities at this time, fled with merchandise they scooped up after they shattered a glass display case inside the store, said Lt. Charles Edgar, a spokesman for Lawrence Township police.

While he declined to reveal how much the stolen merchandise was worth, Edgar said it was a “significant” amount.

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It was not immediately clear how many employees and patrons were in the store at the time of the holdup, but no one was injured, according to Edgar.

Today’s robbery of Hamilton Jewelers comes just two months after the holdup of Marco’s Jewelry LLC on Lawrence Road (Route 206) on Feb. 22. .

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Edgar said the three individuals involved in today’s robbery were described as black males believed to be in their 20s who all had thin builds. They were all wearing hoodies and had their faces covered, he said.

He said they were in the store for only a short time – shattering the display case, grabbing the merchandise and running out the door in just a minute or two. Their method and direction of flight was unclear, but police are investigating the possibility the trio may have sped away in a vehicle driven by a fourth person.

Immediately after the holdup was reported, numerous township police officers – in both marked and unmarked police vehicles – raced to the scene. Officers armed with automatic weapons could be seen searching the area, with one officer carefully looking into a nearby trash bin.

Information on the holdup was quickly relayed to police in Trenton and Ewing, followed by an alert that was broadcast to police departments throughout Mercer County.

Edgar said detectives are following up some “promising leads.” But he urged anyone with information about the crime to call township police at (609) 896-1111.

The in the 1100 block of Lawrence Road (Route 206) occurred about 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 22. The 17-year-old boy suspected of carrying a gun during that robbery was , while his alleged accomplices - Daniel H. Parra, 32, of Copperfield Drive, Hamilton, and Jean. L. Leontus, 26, of Brafman Drive, Hamilton – were arrested on Feb. 28 and March 2, respectively.

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