Suspect in $1M Pine Twp. jewelry heist arrested in Chicago

WEXFORD, Pa. — A man wanted in connection with a $1 million jewelry heist earlier this year in Pine Township was arrested early Friday in Chicago, according to police.

Authorities said 30-year-old Oscar Rodriguez was stopped by police after officers said he was standing in the middle of South Kedzie Avenue just before 3 a.m.

Chicago police Officer Jose Estrada said a name check revealed Rodriguez was wanted on an active warrant for robbery in Pennsylvania.

Northern Regional police Chief Robert Amann confirmed that Rodriguez is one of the people investigators believe is responsible for stealing about $1 million worth of jewelry in May from a salesman in the parking lot of the Grafner Brothers Jewelry Store in Pine Tree Shops on Perry Highway.

The jewelry salesman told police three men wearing masks and dressed in black approached him when he parked his car in the lot. The salesman, who told police one of the men had a knife, ran away while the thieves broke a window of his car and grabbed a bag of jewelry, police said.

Amann said Chicago police notified his department of Rodriguez’s arrest around 4:30 a.m.

"It's all in the early stages," Amann said.

Rodriguez is scheduled to appear in Central Bond Court later Friday.

When asked for comment on the arrest, Grafner Brothers' Richard Lloyd expressed his appreciation.

"It was really gratifying because usually these guys aren't caught," Lloyd told Channel 11's Jodine Costanzo.

Channel 11's news exchange partners at TribLIVE contributed to this report.

WPXI