STATESVILLE, N.C. — Statesville detectives are asking for the public's help identifying the man who robbed a jewelry store with a hammer on Friday afternoon.
The incident happened at the Kay Jewelers on Turnersburg Highway around 12:30 p.m. When officers arrived, they were told a masked man entered the store with a hammer and threatened employees before smashing display cases to steal various pieces of jewelry. The man drove away from the store in a white BMW that had a concealed license plate. No one was hurt during the robbery, police said.
Officers searched the area and found the man's BMW abandoned on Pump Station Road, not far from where the robbery took place. The Iredell County Sheriff's Office assisted Statesville police by setting up a perimeter and deploying a K-9 unit and drone, but they weren't able to find the robber.
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The suspect is described as a white male with long dark hair He was last seen wearing blue jeans, black sneakers, dark gloves and a gray shirt that was covered by a black T-shirt. He was carrying a black and red duffle bag.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Statesville Police at 704-878-3406 immediately.