Police say thieves stole jewelry from display cases and cut open a safe, removing cash, after they broke into Kuba Jewelers in the 800 block of South Oak Park Avenue, overnight Feb. 24.
A pry tool was allegedly used to break into the back door of the vacant neighboring business at 818 S. Oak Park, which formerly housed Yova Coffee Shop sometime between 4 p.m. Feb. 24 and 11:45 a.m. the next day. A hole was cut in the wall and the offenders crawled into the jewelry store, where they pried open display cases and cut open a safe, apparently with a cutting tool, according to Oak Park Detective Sgt. Michael Richardson.
“They took jewelry from the safe and $200,” said Richardson, adding that the shop did not have a video surveillance system. Investigators were canvassing neighboring businesses’ video systems for evidence. Richardson said the shop’s owner did not have an accurate estimate of the total loss. Damage to the building was estimated at $800.
Kuba Jewlers is one of the oldest jewelry stores in Oak Park and has been open “more than 40 years,” Richardson said.
In May 2010, three men with guns robbed Harrison Jewelers on Roosevelt Road and clerks were bound with duct tape. Police said robbers in that event opened the safe and stole jewelry from display cases, cash, and customers’ jewelry left for repair.
