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Detroit-Area Group Suspected In Pennsylvania Smash-And-Grabs

ALTOONA, Pa. (AP) - A group of 17 Detroit-area residents are suspected in at least three smash-and-grab jewelry store robberies in Pennsylvania.

The FBI in Detroit posted the names of the suspects Friday after they were indicted by a grand jury on charges of robbing stores in Pennsylvania, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New York, North Carolina and Virginia.

In Pennsylvania, some members of the group are suspected in a heist at Kranich's Jewelers in the Logan Valley Mall near Altoona on Nov. 26. In that robbery, $250,000 worth of Rolex watches were stolen.

The group is also suspected in an attempted heist Dec. 4 at Louis Anthony Jewelers in Bethel Park, near Pittsburgh, and a Jan. 19 robbery in the Willow Grove Park Mall near Philadelphia.

During the crimes, the robbers smash display cases or windows before running away with stolen jewelry.

According to the indictments, the group is suspected of upwards of 40 such robberies in the last year alone.

TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

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