5 arrested, including mother and son, in burglary at high-end jewelry store

ATLANTA — Police said Friday that they arrested five people -- including a mother and son -- in connection with a multimillion-dollar burglary at a high-end Buckhead jewelry store last month.

Channel 2's Michael Seiden received a tip about the arrests Friday afternoon.

Police later confirmed they made four arrests early Friday morning after serving search warrants at two separate locations. A fifth suspect was already in custody on unrelated charges.

Icebox Diamonds & Watches is an upscale jewelry store in Buckhead known for its celebrity clientele. On Feb. 17, police say thieves broken in and stole millions in expensive jewelry and cash after first breaking into the store manager's home.

Investigators said  Friday the five suspects worked together to steal from the exclusive Buckhead business where celebrities like T.I. and 21 Savage have been known to shop.

Diamond-encrusted Rolexes, custom chains and $27,000 in cash were among the stolen items police displayed at a news conference on Friday.

Atlanta police commander Maj. James Shaw said he's glad to have the criminals off the streets.

"These arrests today are a really big deal for this community," Shaw said. "These today are as big as anything we've seen in a while. I think the people that we arrested today pose a significant threat to the community and beyond this community."

Shaw said officers raided the homes early in the morning Friday after a monthlong investigation. The Cobb County and Atlanta Police departments said they joined forces, working leads until Friday's arrest.

"Through the entire investigation, we have gone where the evidence has taken us and it kind of all came together this morning," Shaw said.

During the news conference, Cobb County's newly appointed District Attorney John Melvin had a strong message to deliver to the suspects.

"(The goal was) to bring the maximum amount of pain that we can to this racketeering enterprise," Melvin said. "These people will not see the light of day again."

Seiden tried to talk to the owner of the business, but an employee said, "no comment."

All five suspects are facing burglary, theft, drugs and weapons charges.

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BACKGROUND: 

Police say two masked gunmen followed the manager of the Icebox Diamonds & Watches home last month. They then held the couple hostage and forced the manager to give them keys and codes to the store.

After the victims were tied up, one of the robbers took the keys, joined another crew at the store on Peachtree Road in Buckhead and burglarized it, the statement said.

The thieves stole between $5 million and $10 million in diamonds and watches, police said.

With more than a million followers on Instagram, the store has earned worldwide fame.

Dozens of hip-hop’s biggest stars, like Atlanta’s own T.I. and 21 Savage, have all been known to drop tens of thousands of dollars on custom pieces.

Cox Media Group