June 20, 2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Franklin N.J. , Franklin Police are searching for gem thieves who ransacked the Franklin Mineral Museum a geology museum in Sussex County .The thieves made off with thousands of dollars worth of precious stones.
The zinc mining district of Franklin is known world-wide for an abundance of fluorescent and rare minerals. The Museum exhibits fluorescent, local and world-wide minerals, artifacts, fossils, and a safe two level mine replica.
According to Franklin police the early morning break in at 4:40 a.m. Monday, the thieves broke in through a second story widow, ransacked shelves and displays and smashed cabinets.
Police said the suspects stole over $30,000 in precious stones, gems and minerals.
Interestingly investigators said there appears to have been an injury to one of the burglars. The glass apparently cut at least one of the burglars, leaving a trail of blood.
Franklin police are asking anyone with information about the break-in or if anyone has noticed someone with an unusual laceration to contact Detective Daniel Flora at 862-273-5170 or Detective Sergeant Mattessich at 862-268-1401.
