Jewelry store owner ready to get back to business after robbery
Dothan Eagle, AL
By Ebony Horton
E-mail
Gary Harbin still can’t officially tell the value of his personal diamonds, gold and unique jewelry that was stolen more than a week ago after burglars climbed through the roof of his 30-year-old business.
But what he said he does know is that the pieces of his customers’ jewelry like watches and wedding rings that he’d been asked to adjust or repair at Harbin Jewelers were priceless to him.
And at this point, Harbin said he wants nothing more than to get those pieces back.
Harbin said video footage from a backup security camera shows at least three men who climbed through the jewelry store’s roof, disabled its alarm systems in seconds, and torched open one of two safes that were side by side.
The robbers then used several gallons of water Harbin had for his steam cleaner to cool the safe off. Harbin said the heat also burned several of his customers’ records, although no damage was done to the front of the store or to his office.
Harbin said the case is somewhat similar to an attempt made a year ago when someone climbed through the roof of his store. But the burglar triggered the alarm and was arrested, he said.
He’s hopeful law enforcement agencies working together will lead to some arrests in the recent burglary.
“I’d never imagined or prepared for a thing like this. Of course I feel violated, but the worst thing is that my customers’ jewelry is gone. But if someone could just find one piece, one piece of evidence I know it’ll lead to everything else,” Harbin said in between waving to customers coming in and out of the store.
The store is expected to be closed to shoppers for another two weeks, but some residents came in to wish Harbin well or to pay bills.
Ozark deputy police chief Myron Williams said the department is working diligently in collaboration with other departments to follow leads. The department did not have any suspects as of 5 p.m. Tuesday, he said.
Harbin said he began the business in 1977 after successfully running two jewelry stores in Columbus, Ga.
He said he has no intention of shutting down shop, and advised other business owners to keep running lists of all of their property.
“No burglar’s gonna run me out of business. After the painting and the new doors and new vault, alarm system and some other things, we will start back up,” he said.
“I just thank our customers for their business and ask that they’ll remain patient with us.”
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