Fresno burglar shimmied down rope from roof of Marlene's jewelry store
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Fresno police say a creative burglar broke into a Southeast Fresno jewelry store and he knew exactly what he was doing. It happened near Kings Canyon and Clovis.
Marlene's jewelry has been hit four times within the last year. And while this last time is unique, it has the owner wondering what else she could possibly do to protect herself.
The surveillance images are clear. The thief drops down into the store from the ceiling. He then uses a rope to climb down. He seems to know exactly where to go and what to grab. Even police admit the entire job is odd.
Sergeant Mark Hudson said, "But this is unusual in that somebody knows this business, is able to climb down into the business using a rope and stealing that much merchandise and getting away with it."
What you can't see in the video is the carefully crafted Valentine's Day display, luring customers to diamonds, watches, rings and necklaces. All of it is now gone, and it's valued at more than 40 grand.
The owner, Soledad Castaneda told us in Spanish, "All the effort it put in here, everyday I'm here. Weekends and nights, and someone robbed me like it was nothing."
Castaneda has been victimized before you might remember the surveillance video from last summer. In the botched robbery attempt, the suspects tried to hop the counter and eventually ran away after employees scared them off.
Castaneda tells us she's got every imaginable security measure in place. "I even have private security, I'm amazed- they come in through the front, the back and now through the roof where else can they come through."
The man got away the same way he got in, leaving Castaneda and police to believe he'd been there before, as he certainly knew his way around and knew it well.
Police are asking for the public's help. They're hoping you'll call if you have any information.
