MINNEAPOLIS, Minn (AX) — Thieves orchestrated an audacious heist at Southdale Center in Edina, making off with a whopping $700,000 in gold from Gift Jewelers. The shop owner, Omar Mahamud, is reeling from the hit, while detectives are trying to unravel this near-perfect crime.
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Barely had the store closed its doors for the night, when at around half-past eight, sounds of drilling echoed — captured by surveillance. The crooks carved their path through a nearby bathroom wall, then sliced through the barriers to the jewel haven. Once inside, they knocked out the security cams, trashed the display cases, and made their escape with almost all the gleaming treasure.
Mahamud is convinced it was premeditated. “It wasn’t a spur of the moment thing,” he expressed. “They scouted the place, knew the blind spots. Feels like an inside gig.” he mused.
The timing of it all is a bit fishy too. Just a day before, a sign popped up, announcing Mahamud’s plan to shift the store to Richfield. Now, that move is a big question mark since there’s no insurance safety net to catch his losses.
Reflecting on the incident, Mahamud lamented, “It was everything. Years of slogging and savings, snatched in a blink.”
Law enforcement is knee-deep in the investigation, but arrests remain elusive. While not dismissing the possibility of an inside job, Edina police are exploring every angle. The bustling mall location has also sparked chatter about potential chinks in security armor.
Holding onto a sliver of hope, Mahamud wishes for a breakthrough in the probe and dreams of one day reviving his beleaguered business.
Simon Property Group, which runs Southdale Center, reserved their remarks on the incident, steering all questions toward the local constabulary.
Left – Burglars sliced through barriers, creating a covert passage to Gift Jewelers at Southdale Center. They swiped $700,000 in gold. Credit/ FOX9.”
Right – Intruders bored through a bathroom wall, neutralized security, and plundered Gift Jewelers. The high-stakes robbery left the owner high and dry without insurance. Credit/ FOX9.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
