Press crews from the surrounding area were at full force for the Attleboro Police Department press conference regarding the E.A. Dion heist. Media interest in the theft has been high due to the fact that Super Bowl rings for the New York Giants were part of the loot. (Staff photo by Mike George) FBI joins Super Bowl ring, gold theft probe
BY DAVID LINTON SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
ATTLEBORO - The FBI has been called in to help police investigate the break-in of a city jewelry company and theft of an estimated $2 million in gold, gems and jewelry, including New York Giants Super Bowl rings.
No arrests have been made in connection to the heist at E. A. Dion at 33 Franklin McKay Drive - one of the largest in the city's history - but the incident remains under investigation.
Thieves disabled the alarm system and cut a hole in the roof of the company, located in an industrial park in South Attleboro, sometime over the weekend, and made off with a 1,000-pound safe, police said.
In a news conference at the police station Wednesday, Police Capt. David Proia made an appeal to the public and pawn shop merchants to call police if they notice suspicious items turning up.
Proia also said local and state police investigating the burglary are reaching out to other law enforcement agencies to find out whether they are investigating any similar crimes.
"Anytime something like this happens, we do compare notes with other police departments," Proia said.
The police captain also told reporters investigators are trying to determine whether security cameras at the company could assist in the probe.
Although the thieves cut a hole in the roof to get inside the building, Proia said police are still investigating how they got out.
He declined to answer specific questions about the crime, saying the information could jeopardize the investigation, nor have police determined whether the thieves were familiar with the layout of the building.
He said police have increased patrols in the industrial park in the wake of the incident.
The heist was discovered Sunday by a company employee who went to the building after unsuccessfully trying to access her work e-mail from home.
Investigators later determined that telephone wires outside the company were cut by the thieves.
The company has since resumed operations, company President Edward "Ted" Dion Jr. said.
The Super Bowl rings, which were manufactured by the company, were to be given to the Giants staff to commemorate New York's 17-14 win over the New England Patriots in February, team spokesman Pat Hanlon said.
The white gold rings - which were designed by Tiffany and Co. and valued at $25,000 each - were exactly the same as the ones players and coaches received last month.
The team's "NY" logo is set in round diamonds, while "World Champions" is emblazoned in raised letters on the top and bottom bezel, with channel-set diamonds on the left and right bezel. The rings also feature the team's three Super Bowl trophies.
