Wednesday October 23, 2024
Omar Mahamud, owner of Gift Jewelers, stands in his store after thieves tunneled through walls and stole over $700,000 worth of gold, leaving empty shelves and shattered displays behind. Credit/ FOX9.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn (HOL) —Thieves tunnelled through the walls of Edina's Southdale Center, stealing $700,000 in gold from Gift Jewelers in a meticulously planned heist that has left the store owner shattered and police struggling to piece together how the criminals executed such a flawless operation. The break-in, which took place Sunday evening, has left the store owner, Omar Mahamud, devastated and questioning the future of his business.
The theft occurred just hours after the store had closed for the night, around 8:30 p.m. Surveillance footage captured the sound of drilling as the criminals tunnelled their way into the jewelry store, starting in a nearby bathroom and cutting through several walls to create a pathway into the shop. Once inside, the thieves disabled security cameras, smashed display cases, and fled with nearly all the store's inventory.
Mahamud suspects the crime was premeditated. "This wasn't something they came up with overnight," he said. "They knew the layout, and they knew how to avoid the cameras. It feels like someone who had been here before."
The timing of the heist has raised even more suspicion. Just one day earlier, Mahamud had posted a sign announcing his plans to relocate the store to Richfield. The theft has put those plans in jeopardy, as Mahamud revealed that his store was not insured, leaving him with no immediate recourse to recover the losses.
"This was everything," Mahamud said, reflecting on the theft. "Years of hard work and savings, all gone in minutes."
Authorities are still investigating the case, but no arrests have been made. Edina police have not confirmed whether they are pursuing the theory that the crime could have been an inside job, but they are looking into all possibilities. The store's location in a busy shopping mall has raised concerns about potential security vulnerabilities.
Mahamud remains hopeful that the police investigation will provide answers and that his business might one day recover from this devastating loss.
Simon Property Group, which owns Southdale Center, declined to comment on the heist, directing all inquiries to local law enforcement.
Left - Thieves cut through walls, creating a tunnel to gain access to Gift Jewelers at Southdale Center, where they stole gold worth $700,000. Credit/ FOX9."
Right - The tunnel cut through a bathroom wall by thieves, who later disabled security cameras and robbed Gift Jewelers. The sophisticated heist left the owner without insurance coverage. Credit/ FOX9.