Police officers were released on Tuesday after $120,000 worth of jewelry was stolen in a robbery on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Philadelphia’s Chinatown neighborhood.
Officials had previously announced an arrest in this case.
On Tuesday, Captain Jason Smith of the Philadelphia Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit showed a video of the robbery and explained how police tracked down the man believed to be responsible for the crime.
According to law enforcement officials, Phu Chim, 53, was arrested and charged after a SWAT team executed a search warrant on a property in the 1600 block of South 28th Street on August 3, 2024.
Police officials said the theft occurred on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, around 3 p.m., when a man, believed to be Chim, entered a jewelry store in the 900 block of Arch Street, pulled out a firearm and approached a display case of 24-karat jewelry.
“Mr. Chim pulled out a gun and said, ‘Don’t call the police,'” Smith said.
Police said Chim then pulled an object believed to be a hammer from a bag he was carrying and smashed a glass display case before grabbing four trays of jewelry.
Police estimate the value of the stolen jewelry to be more than $120,000.
He then fled on foot. According to police, investigations established his identity as a suspect, which led to his arrest on August 3, 2024.
According to police, Chim was also carrying loaded firearms, ammunition and narcotics at the time of his arrest.
Smith said the items seized included two handguns, an AR-15-style rifle and more than 26 pounds of marijuana.
“He is a thrill seeker. His main source of income is drug trafficking,” Smith said.
Smith also said that police do not believe he had any contact with the jewelry store before the robbery.
In addition, according to Smith, police were unable to find any of the stolen jewelry in Chim’s apartment.
Chim was charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault, firearms violations, drug possession and related offenses.
