HAMMOND, IN – Two Michigan man have been charged in federal court for a smash-and-grab robbery at an Indiana jewelry store.
Darren Bell, 19 and Altonio Benson, 27, both of Detroit, are named in criminal complaint with robbery affecting interstate commerce, U.S. Attorney Thomas Kirsch announced on Feb. 14.
The men are accused of smashing display cases with hammers and fleeing an open jewelry store in Hobart, Indiana with approximately $803,000 worth of jewelry around 7:05 pm on Jan. 25.
Bell and Benson were apprehended a short time after committing the robbery, according to a news release.
“Brazen robberies such as this case commands a swift response from law enforcement,” Kirsch said.
“I want to commend all our law enforcement partners for their work in investigating this case. We will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute these type of crimes in this District.”
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all persons are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Gang Response Investigative Team and police in Hobart.