By MONA NAIR
6 News Reporter
MARYVILLE (WATE) – A new round of investigations have started in East Tennessee based on a story 6 News did on Wednesday.
The surveillance video showed two women and a man stealing thousands of dollars in jewelry and coins from Antique Village Mall in Crossville.
Now a business in Clinton and police in Maryville have linked video of the suspects to identical crimes in their areas. The same set of criminals have already been linked to antique mall thefts in Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and other parts of Tennessee.
"We have a very tight security system here," explained Doug Saloman, owner of Antique Village Mall during the interview on Wednesday. He said that despite the cameras and alarms, they stole thousands of dollars in coins and jewelry in just a matter of seconds.
The video 6 News aired was watched by Kate Hale, who owns a similar store called Unique Jewelry and Gifts in Clinton.
"When we saw the video on TV on the 11 p.m. news, we knew it was the same person," Hale said telling us how she recognized the same man and woman who targeted her store twice, most recently earlier this month.
In all, they stole more than $15,000 worth from her. They always use the same strategy, one person distracts the store owner, while the other makes their move.
At Parkway Antique Mall in Maryville, local police linked the video to a crime at the business. More than $13,000 in gold and jewelry were taken two weeks ago.
"You would never suspect them. They look like normal people, not someone dressed in bum clothes," said owner Lisa Krogulski.
With a few of the crimes now linked, authorities in East Tennessee hope they can put an end to the spree. They say they are close to releasing the identity of the two suspects. But it's possible the local team could be part of a much bigger ring. Area antique malls are asked to be on high alert.
Lisa Krogulski said the thieves opened up a locked case and pocketed the goods.
