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Police: $1M In Gold, Jewels Stolen From Irvington Jewelry Store

IRVINGTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Thieves cut a hole in a wall and made off with more than $1 million in gold and jewels from a northern New Jersey jewelry store, police said.

The heist at M & E 1 Jewelry Inc. in Irvington occurred sometime Sunday night when a hole was cut through the wall of an adjacent furniture store.

Police: $1M In Gold, Jewels Stolen From Irvington Jewelry Store

The company's president, Ray, said when he arrived at work Monday morning, he found the store's alarm panel on the floor.

"All the wires connected to the panel is cut, at that moment I felt we'd been robbed," Ray said, adding that the alarm system never went off and he is waiting for answers from the alarm company. "The gentleman who handles this is still looking to see what happened."

Ray said display cases and two safes in the back of the store that should be filled with expensive jewelry are now empty. The safes are made of 4 inches of reinforced steel and concrete, News 12 reported.

"Naked, that's the only word I could use for this, naked. I don't have anything," Ray told 1010 WINS' Rebecca Granet. "I never saw anything in my life like this."

Police: $1M In Gold, Jewels Stolen From Irvington Jewelry Store

Irvington Jewelry Store Heist
This is where Ray says the thieves were able to break into the store. (credit: Rebecca Granet/1010 WINS)
Irvington Jewelry Store Heist
Empty display cases at M & E 1 Jewelry Inc. in Irvington. (credit: Rebecca Granet/1010 WINS)
Irvington Jewelry Store Heist
Thieves cut this hole into a safe to get their hands on expensive jewelry. (credit: Rebecca Granet/1010 WINS)
Irvington Jewelry Store Heist
An empty safe at M & E 1 Jewelry Inc. in Irvington. (credit: Rebecca Granet/1010 WINS)
Irvington Jewelry Store Heist
Empty display cases at M & E 1 Jewelry Inc. in Irvington. (credit: Rebecca Granet/1010 WINS)

Ray is working to rebuild his business and said he will honor any tickets that his customers may have, Granet reported.

Ray said he couldn't get insurance because of the store's location.

"They don't sell you coverage for jewelry in this type of area," he told WCBS 880's Levon Putney.

Ray said he is going to stay open and sell gold-plated jewelry.

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(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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