News Releases

Detectives Investigate Wheaton Strong-Arm Robbery; Photos of Suspect Released

For Immediate Release: Monday, January 22, 2024

Gaithersburg, MD – Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division are investigating a strong-arm robbery of a jewelry store in Westfield Wheaton Mall that occurred on Sunday, December 24, 2023.  

At approximately 5:32 p.m., 4th District officers responded to the Gold Palace in the 11160 block of Veirs Mill Rd., for the report of a theft that just occurred.  

The preliminary investigation by detectives determined that the suspect approached the employee and asked to see merchandise from behind the counter. As the employee was getting the merchandise out of the case, she asked for identification. The suspect complied, but the employee noticed that the identification did not match the suspect. The suspect then grabbed the employee and was able to rip the gold chain out of her hand before running away from the scene.  

Detectives obtained photos of the suspect. 

The suspect is described as a Black male, approximately 25 to 30-year-old, 6-feet to 6-feet, 2-inches tall, average build, wearing tinted glasses, a Chicago White Sox baseball hat, a black puffy jacket, black jeans and black and white mid top sneakers.   

Anyone with information regarding this suspect or this crime is asked to visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, MD website at www.crimesolversmcmd.org (http://www.crimesolversmcmd.org/) and click on the “www.p3tips.com (http://www.p3tips.com/)” link at the top of the page or call 1-866-411-8477. A reward of up to $10,000 is offered for information leading to the suspect’s arrest. Tips may remain anonymous.

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Release ID: 24-033
Media Contact: LNJIvey 
Categories: robbery