Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
$54,000 In Jewelry Stolen From UES Store To The Stars
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 12, 2014
Modified Apr 12, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 12, 2014
Modified Apr 12, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A jewelry store whose clientele includes Selena Gomez, Kate Winslet and Beyonce was robbed yesterday, police say. The NYPD released a video of the suspect who allegedly robbed the Upper East Side store, Margo Manhattan. The owner also added that her employee was choked by the man.
According to the police, it happened at 1:50 p.m. on Friday. A man walked into the store at 1202 Madison Avenue (near 88th Street) and asked to view some jewelry. A 53-year-old female employee began to help him, but then police say, "he grabbed her by the neck and forced her into the back room where he tied her up. The suspect then removed a key from the victim to open a display case and removed jewelry. He returned to the back room where he removed additional items fled the location with approximately $54,000 worth of jewelry."
The owner, Margo Manhattan, told the Daily News that her employee was the only one there and had buzzed the man in: "She thought he was maybe a rap star." But the employee was viciously attacked—Manhattan says that the man had a stun gun: "She came to a point where she saw her life in front of her. He was really forceful. He choked her. He said, ‘I’m going to kill you.’"
Manhattan's jewelry has been worn by numerous celebrities and one stunning necklace was worn by Beyonce in her video for "Blow." Of the stolen items, the News says there was "an 18-karat white gold bracelet with pavé diamonds worth $10,000. Also nabbed were a $45,000 necklace, a $7,500 bracelet, a $4,500 bracelet and a $2,100 bracelet in a style worn by Beyoncé." Manhattan said she doesn't care about the jewelry, "I’d rather them get the jewelry than have them hurt anyone. Their safety is more important. I can replace the jewelry but I can’t replace their life."
The suspect is described as wearing a black Brooklyn Nets caps, blue jeans, black T-shirt, black belt with a silver colored buckle and a beaded silver chain. Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or texting their tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
Tagged
beyoncé
grand larceny
Jewelry
Margo Manhattan
robbery
upper east side
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
5 men charged with trespassing in 2 Manhattan manhole cases
Two people who were found soaking wet and smelling of sewage say they went underground to look for jewelry, according to police and a criminal complaint.
By
Charles Lane
Published Oct 23, 2026 at 7:49 p.m. ET
6-year-old girl breaks leg after getting hit by falling bricks in Queens
The girl was walking with her mother in Maspeth on Thursday. The Department of Buildings cited the owner of a garage for “failure to maintain” it.
By
Charles Lane
News
6-year-old girl breaks leg after getting hit by falling bricks in Queens
The girl was walking with her mother in Maspeth on Thursday. The Department of Buildings cited the owner of a garage for “failure to maintain” it.
By
Charles Lane
Mamdani extends ban on permits for new street fairs due to NYPD overtime
By
Carol Chen
Inside the Midtown Bus Terminal rebuild: Decks over Lincoln Tunnel approach, a new park
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Black couple seeking Queens apartment sues over racist text from broker
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .