Flushing Jewelry Store Robbed in Broad Daylight – This Could Have Been Prevented

Friday should have been a day to wrap up work with good spirits and look forward to a relaxing weekend. But the staff at Luk Fook Jewelry in Flushing, New York experienced a day of terror instead.

Around 4 PM on March 24th, an African American thief smashed the display window of Luk Fook Jewelry on Roosevelt Avenue in broad daylight, stealing approximately $32,000 worth of jewelry before fleeing the scene.

Brazen Daylight Robbery

According to witness videos, the robber - an African American man wearing a mask and goggles - first used a hammer to break the display window, then quickly grabbed jewelry from the showcases.

While escaping, he stuffed the jewelry into his bag so hastily that several pieces fell near the entrance of the neighboring New World Mall, forcing him to stop and pick them up.

Shockingly, the thief returned to the scene through the broken window to steal more jewelry before finally fleeing east along Roosevelt Avenue, leaving behind broken glass, scattered jewelry boxes, and the hammer used in the crime.
As of publication, the suspect remains at large while police continue their investigation.

Police urge anyone with information to contact:
1. Crime Stoppers website: www.nypdcrimestoppers.com
2. Text CRIMES (274637) then enter TIP577
3. Twitter @NYPDTips
4. "CS-NYC" Crime Stoppers mobile app
All tips remain completely anonymous.

More Than Just Store Staff Are Concerned

The robbed Luk Fook Jewelry store is adjacent to Flushing's busiest shopping center, New World Mall, with heavy daily foot traffic. The area contains numerous Chinese-owned businesses.

Melina, a jewelry store owner in the mall, revealed: "In response to increasing anti-Asian crimes, I recently had my store's display windows reinforced with thicker glass."

Even customers were shocked by the incident.

Regular customer Cici had shopped at Luk Fook just the day before and planned to return with friends. "I knew things were bad lately, but not this bad," she said after witnessing the robbery.

Like Cici, many recognize the declining public safety but never imagine such crimes could happen so close to home.

Challenges Facing Chinese Businesses

Chinese small business owners currently face multiple pressures including high rents and pandemic-related operational restrictions.

The pandemic has hit U.S. small businesses hard, especially restaurants. Many have adapted with takeout and outdoor dining, but closures continue.

Some Chinese restaurants in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York still must pay rent despite being closed, creating severe financial strain.

Just as vaccine rollouts offered hope for economic recovery, the surge in anti-Asian hate crimes has created new anxieties for Chinese communities and businesses.

Racially motivated incidents have caused widespread fear, leading many Asian Americans to limit outings and spending, while business owners operate in constant vigilance.

Anti-Asian hate crimes have risen sharply since the pandemic began, with notable cases in San Francisco, Oakland, New York's Brooklyn, and Atlanta causing particular alarm.

Many long-time Chinese residents note that while discrimination existed before, the current climate feels particularly hostile.

Prevention and Damage Control

For individuals facing anti-Asian incidents, remember these 5 key points:
1. Safety first: Trust your instincts about environmental safety. Leave if threatened.
2. Stay calm: Breathe deeply, minimize eye contact, maintain neutral body language.
3. Assert boundaries (when safe): Use calm but firm language to condemn the behavior.
4. Seek immediate support: Ask bystanders for help or intervention.
5. Emotional support: Process the experience afterward with someone you trust - it wasn't your fault.
(For more details, see our article "Speaking Out Against Rising Anti-Asian Violence")

For businesses experiencing theft:
1. File an insurance claim: A police report is essential documentation regardless of loss amount. Reporting helps track crime patterns.
2. Contact your insurer immediately: Broken doors/windows require emergency repairs to prevent secondary theft. Some insurers offer 3-hour emergency service to restore security quickly. Provide all requested documentation for assessment.
3. For robberies occurring outside your store (e.g., during deliveries), check if your policy covers lost business revenue. Many don't realize such incidents may still qualify for claims under certain commercial policies, as do off-premises incidents under homeowners insurance.

Of course, iTalkBB hopes you'll never need this information.

While we can't control others' actions, we can take proactive measures to protect ourselves.

For home security needs, iTalkBB recommends our AIjia Smart Home Security system, specially designed for Chinese households.

Security cameras serve as deterrents first - their presence alone can prevent break-ins.

AIjia's smart features include:
- Human detection alerts sent to your phone
- Loud alarm sirens to scare off intruders
- One-touch emergency alerts with location details for faster police response
- Cloud video storage (hopefully never needed) provides crucial evidence for police and insurance claims.

Whether or not you choose security cameras, we hope you prioritize safety - health and peace of mind are life's most valuable assets.

Learn More:

1. Visit: https://www.italkbb.com/us/chs/home-security-6.99

2. Follow iTalkBB on WeChat: