The owner of a Newcastle jewellery shop known for its viral acts of kindness videos has been left feeling 'numb' after a weekend break-in resulted in the theft of thousands of pounds worth of stock. Chevonne Austin, who runs Jewellery Queen in Eldon Gardens, initially believed around £1,000 had been taken, but after a thorough inventory, she now estimates the loss at approximately £37,000. The stolen items include around 200 heavy sterling silver rings, many inscribed with 'Austin 925', along with numerous other pieces.
Break-In Details
The burglary occurred overnight on Saturday, June 6, between 7.50pm and 8.40pm. Police believe the offender gained access to the shopping centre through an unknown method before targeting the jewellery store. Chevonne, 35, who lives in Sunderland, told Chronicle Live: 'Someone gained access into the shopping centre, how this has happened is a bit of a mystery - it certainly shouldn't have happened. He's then made his way through the centre. I don't think he was specifically targeting our shop as he was looking through the windows of other shops, but he came across ours and smashed the window. He filled a backpack up with jewellery. There was blood everywhere because he smashed the glass and climbed in through the window.'
Owner's Determination
Chevonne, who was homeless as a teenager, built the Jewellery Queen business over the past decade and also runs a store in Sunderland city centre. The brand is famous on social media for its random acts of kindness videos, where staff surprise members of the public with free jewellery. Despite the setback, Chevonne is resolute: 'After the police left yesterday, we stayed back and swept up. We re-stocked all the shelves and made sure we were open today because I wasn't letting them win. We'll grow and we'll come back stronger.' She has urged anyone who comes across the stolen rings, particularly those marked 'Austin 925', to contact Northumbria Police.
Police Investigation
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: 'We received a report of burglary at a shop on Eldon Gardens, in Newcastle city centre, which is understood to have taken place between 7.50pm and 8.40pm on Saturday. It was reported that an offender had used a metal pole to smash through the window of the store before stealing a quantity of jewellery from inside. He then left the scene.' Inquiries are ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact police via social media, live chat, or by calling 101, quoting reference number 26000370639.
