Masked thieves smash into Calgary jewellery store, flee with $200K in gold

Two masked men shattered their way into a Calgary jewellery shop in the middle of the night, making off with an estimated $200,000 in gold pieces, and leaving the owners shaken.

The brazen break‑in at Treasure Mountain Jewellery along Centre Street near 16 Avenue was caught on CCTV just after 1 a.m. on Feb. 2.

The footage shows the pair smashing through the front door, heading straight for a locked gold showcase, and clearing it out within minutes.

The thieves left behind empty necklace busts, overturned boxes, and shards of glass scattered across the floor.

Co‑owner Jami Hughes said the suspects seemed to know exactly what they were looking for.

“Our protective door was completely smashed,” Hughes said. “All the restored gold rings and pendant necklaces that I had in there, which have been a lifelong collection, are gone. We do put most of the jewelry in the safe, but these people knew exactly where to go.”

The theft has been reported to the Calgary Police Service, and the investigation is ongoing.

But for the owners, this is only the latest blow. The shop has previously dealt with distraction thefts, graffiti, and repeated vandalism.

Insurance will cover part of the loss, Hughes said, but many of the stolen items were restored pieces or family heirlooms, irreplaceable in both value and sentiment. The emotional toll has been even heavier.

“I don’t even know if I want to run the business anymore,” she said. “Every day is a major stress for us. Winter is really hard because the days get dark, and it just makes the possibility of what people can do in the nighttime a little more out of control.”

The Crescent Heights Village Business Improvement Area called the crime “particularly brazen,” noting the shop sits at a busy intersection where the risk of being seen is high. The BIA says it has been urging the city to improve lighting and infrastructure along Centre Street, but delays tied to the Green Line project have slowed progress.

For now, Hughes says she no longer feels safe in her own store. She hopes police will catch the suspects soon and that she can return to running her business without fear.