2 arrested after millions stolen in jewelry heist

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga.,None — Thieves cut their way into a Forsyth County jewelry store and got away with $2.8 million in merchandise in what may turn out to be one of the largest jewelry heists in Georgia history. Two men have been arrested in the theft.

"They look like professionals," store owner Ibrahim Ehicam told Channel 2's Richard Elliot.

"They emptied the whole thing.  I mean, they took everything, even the last one cent, even the cash register," Ehicam said.

Investigators said the thieves started their heist from an adjoining empty building and then cut through a solid concrete wall to enter the Milano's Fine Jewelry store on Buford Road early Sunday morning.

Ehicam told Elliot he built his store four years ago with solid concrete walls to deter thieves, but it didn't do much good. He said the thieves bypassed the security system and must've taken half a day to cut their way through another concrete and steel wall to break into the safe.

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They also cleaned out every display case, Ehicam said.

"This is probably one of the largest we've had in Forsyth County in my 25 years’ experience here," Forsyth County Sheriff's Office Capt. Tim House said.  "We do have active leads we are following.  Our investigators and crime scene technicians were on the scene all day gathering evidence and putting part of this case together."

Around 3 p.m. Tuesday, deputies arrested 26-year-old Carl Bowser at a home in southwest Atlanta. Later, they arrested the second suspect, Kenardis Holloway, 32, around 3 a.m. at a hotel in Stockbridge.

Ehicam told Elliot that he does have insurance, but it won't cover even half of their loss.

"Our loss is big," said Ehicam.  "I don't know how we're going to recover, but we will.  We have no other choice."

WSBTV