I hope they catch these two!

I've gone to this store a few times (for repairs) and the owner seems very down to earth and generally a good guy.

Wish for a speedy recovery.

Two are brutalized during looting of jeweler's display cases and safe

Thursday, January 07, 2010

A Jersey City jewelry store owner was pistol whipped and his employee was bound during a robbery that cleaned out display cases as well as jewelry and loose diamonds in an unlocked safe, officials said.

When police responded to Jarlley Jeweler, at West Side and Virginia avenues, at 1:20 p.m. yesterday they found the 49-year-old owner on the floor and bleeding from the head, reports said. The officers found the 66-year-old employee's hands bound with a plastic zip lock, reports said.

The owner said a man came into the store and asked to see some ID bracelets and while he was showing him a few items, a second man entered the store and said "This is a hold up," reports said.

That's when the first man took out a silver gun and struck the owner in the forehead with it and the second robber jumped the counter and bound the employee's hands, reports said.

While the gunman stood over the owner, the other robber began stuffing jewelry into a blue bag and the pair then ran away, perhaps heading south on Westside, reports said.

The proprietor was taken by ambulance to the Jersey City Medical Center for treatment of the cut above his left eye, reports said. He told police he would have to take inventory before he could say what was missing and estimate its value, reports said. Police scoured the area but came up empty-handed.

Anyone with information should call the Jersey City police tip line at (201) 547-JAIL.

MICHAELANGELO CONTE