Surveillance cameras capture watch thieves during northeast smash-and-grab

Surveillance still of suspect smashing glass on Watch Warehouse doors before the metal doors were pulled from their frame by a truck

Businesses in northeast Calgary have been the target of a string of recent break-ins and surveillance images from the most recent heist show the lengths thieves will go to gain access to retail shops.

On Saturday morning, shortly after 4:00, two thieves gained access to the Watch Warehouse in the 2300 block of 32 Avenue Northeast after pulling the store’s metal exterior doors from their frame using a chain attached to a pickup truck. The burglar spent less than three minutes inside the jewelry store concentrating his efforts on specific merchandise displays while his accomplice unhooked the truck.

Nurdin Qasimali, the owner of the Watch Warehouse for the last 25 years, was notified of the break-in by his alarm company.

“I came and found the cops were already here,” said Qasimali.  “The door was sitting in the parking lot and there was watches and glass all over the place.”

“Apparently, this guy knew what he was doing because he ran straight through for this showcase,” said the owner. “He came in completely covered so we couldn’t even identify him.”

Qasimali says he places his most expensive merchandise in a safe outside of business hours and the stolen watches are primarily in the $200 range. He believes the thieves made off with more than 150 watches, but he will need to verify his inventory after cleaning up the shattered glass.

Anyone with information about the theft or anyone who encounters watches being sold for well below market value, whether through local online ads or street sales, is asked to contact Crime Stoppers or the Calgary Police Service at 403-266-1234.