CCTV footage has revealed a dramatic jewellery heist in Sydney’s CBD, where a man made off with over $100,000 worth of valuables from a family-owned store. Dressed inconspicuously with a yellow bandana and a helmet, the suspect was captured on camera orchestrating the theft.
In a calculated move to curb the shop owner’s cries for help, the thief activated a fire alarm before fleeing the scene on an e-scooter. Disturbing footage from 9News illustrates the tense moments inside the shop, with the robber demanding, “Open the safe!”
One shop employee, Zeina Zalzale, recounted her harrowing experience, noting the suspect seemed to brandish a weapon and threatened her, saying, “If you don’t open the safe, I’ll hurt you.” As she revealed the empty safe, the thief’s frustration mounted, prompting him to hurriedly seize whatever jewellery he could find within reach.
Despite the chaos, passersby remained unaware of the crime unfolding inside the store, as Zalzale attempted to escape but found herself blocked by the intruder. He swiped several trays overflowing with expensive items, including diamond rings of one to two carats, before making his exit through a fire escape onto Pitt Street.
Witnesses reported that the same individual had previously been spotted in a nearby Woolworths and Big W, where he had stolen a pair of gloves before proceeding to the jewellery store. Currently, the suspect is still at large, leaving both the local community and the family-operated business in shock following this brazen act of theft.