BOARDMAN TOWNSHIP, OHIO — Authorities describe a chaotic scene taking place after hours at the Cirelli Jewelers after an attempted burglary is interrupted by one of the jewelers.
Surveillance video provided by WKBN 27 shows a burglar gaining access to the front entrance of Cirelli Jewelers. It also shows one of the jewelers – who lives above the store – armed with a gun, waiting outside to stop the crime in progress.
via WKBN 27
“He armed himself and went to the front of the business where the subject came at him. He fired a number of shots,” Boardman Police Chief Jack Nichols said.
One of those shots, despite being at close range, missed the burglar altogether and went through the window of a nearby funeral home. But the action wasn’t for naught – the thief dropped a bag filled with an estimated $100,000 worth of jewelry before escaping in a vehicle.
Police followed a trail of blood which abruptly ended – indicating the thief entered a vehicle and escaped. The extent of his injuries is unknown at this time but generally when someone is shot severely, he has a limited time to seek professional medical assistance.
Police are also curious to see if a link exists between this failed robbery and a similar one which occurred at another jewelry store in the area. That robbery was successful but the bandit made off with a measly $8K – in comparison to the near $100K estimated for this one.
While the identify of the burglar is still unknown, police are confident that his DNA will be identified and with it – the implication of his presence at the crime. And especially because the guy took close quarters gunshot wounds, Nichols said it was just a matter of time before he showed up at a hospital.