Jewelry store owner ready to get back to business after robbery
\nDothan Eagle, AL
\nBy Ebony Horton
\nE-mail<\/p>\n
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Gary Harbin still can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t 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.
\nBut what he said he does know is that the pieces of his customers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 jewelry like watches and wedding rings that he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d been asked to adjust or repair at Harbin Jewelers were priceless to him.
\nAnd at this point, Harbin said he wants nothing more than to get those pieces back.
\nHarbin said video footage from a backup security camera shows at least three men who climbed through the jewelry store\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s roof, disabled its alarm systems in seconds, and torched open one of two safes that were side by side.
\nThe 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\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 records, although no damage was done to the front of the store or to his office.
\nHarbin 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.
\nHe\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s hopeful law enforcement agencies working together will lead to some arrests in the recent burglary.
\n“I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d never imagined or prepared for a thing like this. Of course I feel violated, but the worst thing is that my customers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 jewelry is gone. But if someone could just find one piece, one piece of evidence I know it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll lead to everything else,” Harbin said in between waving to customers coming in and out of the store.
\nThe 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.
\nOzark 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.
\nHarbin said he began the business in 1977 after successfully running two jewelry stores in Columbus, Ga.
\nHe said he has no intention of shutting down shop, and advised other business owners to keep running lists of all of their property.
\n“No burglar\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s 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.
\n“I just thank our customers for their business and ask that they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll remain patient with us.”<\/p>\n
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Jewelry store owner ready to get back to business after robbery Dothan Eagle, AL By Ebony Horton E-mail Gary Harbin still can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[411],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n