Man with hammer steals jewelry in Arlington Hts.

A man wearing white socks on his hands used a hammer to break into an Arlington Heights jewelry store and take about 50 pieces of jewelry, authorities said.

The man was videotaped breaking the front glass door of the Arlington Jewelry and Loan, 901 W. Rand Road, at 1:14 a.m. Thursday. Police said he stole 25 watches valued between $20 and $400 each and 25 silver chains valued between $10 and $100 each. A gold bracelet and two watches were found on the ground outside the store.

Officers responded to the store when its burglar alarm was set off. A police dog tracked the thief’s scent but lost it when the man apparently got into a vehicle, officials said. The suspect was described as a white man, between 20 and 25 years old, 5’9” to 6’ tall, 170 pounds and wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with the hood covering his head, dark-colored shorts and black slippers.