Thieves Steal $75K in Jewelry, Lead Authorities on Multi-Town Chase, Police Say

By Elizabeth Alterman and Craig McCarthy

Two Michigan men led authorities on a multi-town chase through Springfield and Short Hills Tuesday afternoon after allegedly stealing $75,000 in jewelry from The Mall at Short Hills, police said.

Devon Edwards, 29, and KK McGilary, 23, both of Detroit, were arrested and charged by the Springfield Police Department with resisting arrest by flight. Edwards, the driver, was also charged with attempting to elude police in a motor vehicle.

According to Capt. Bernie Neuhaus of the Millburn Police, a man went into Tiffany & Co. at about 1 p.m. and asked a sales associate to see two engagement rings. Once the man had both rings, he ran out of the store threatening the security guard.

A nearby witness told police, they saw the man get into a dark-colored car, driven by a second man, with Michigan plates and speed off. 

Following the alleged robbery, Millburn police issued an alert describing the getaway car as a black sedan with Michigan license plates.

Springfield Police Officer Michael Lagola observed the car traveling westbound on Morris Avenue before it entered a gas station near the intersection with Millburn Avenue, police said. 

When Lagola pulled into the station, the black sedan drove back onto Morris Avenue heading westbound, police said. When Lagola activated his lights and siren, the vehicle then sped off by driving westbound in the eastbound lanes to pass cars stopped for a red light, police said. The sedan then went through a red light at the Millburn Avenue intersection, police said.

Springfield Police Sgt. Joseph Cieri was at that intersection and joined the pursuit. The pursuit continued onto Route 124 West into Short Hills with the vehicle returning to The Mall at Short Hills, police said. As the sedan attempted a sharp, fast turn onto JFK Parkway at the mall, the driver lost control and jumped a curb, disabling the vehicle, police said. Edwards and McGilary then ran from the car with officers in foot pursuit, police said.

One of the men ran into a wooded area on the Short Hills-Summit-Chatham border, while the other man ran into the mall parking lot.

Police officers from Springfield, Millburn, Summit, Chatham as well as the Union County Sheriff's K-9 Unit responded to the area and established a perimeter while a foot search was conducted, police said. One of the alleged thieves was arrested while hiding in the wooded area, while the second was apprehended in the rear of the Short Hills Hilton Hotel on JFK Parkway, police said.

As Edwards and McGilary were identified as the individuals who had committed the robbery at the mall, they were taken into custody by Millburn Police Department, police said.

Bail was set at $150,000 for both and they have a tentative court appearance in the Union County Superior Court set for Friday. Both have been remanded to the Essex County Jail by Millburn Police Department on their charges of robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and the second-degree charge of shoplifting.