North Miami, FL – A Kiryas Joel diamond dealer visiting North Miami on business became a victim of a violent crime after he was targeted for the diamonds he was carrying, and it was all captured on surveillance video.
Miami’s Channel 7 News, WSVN-TV (http://bit.ly/1HohC1v) spoke exclusively with Chaim Parnas about his harrowing ordeal, where he was pistol-whipped and beaten behind a pawn shop near 140th Street and West Dixie Highway.
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Parnas says he had driven to the pawn shop to buy diamonds when he was ambushed by three men who tried to tear his vest off him to get to the jewels on his person. But the jewels were actually located in Parnas’ pocket. “They were ripping, they were ripping this,” Parnas said. “[They said] ‘Get the vest, get the vest.’”
North Maimi Police Officer Natalie Buissereth said surveillance footage clearly shows what happened. “You see the victim exit his vehicle and as he exits his vehicle, a vehicle slowly pulls up right behind him. They get out…and rob him at gunpoint. They strike him over the head. They take his jewels and they take off.”
It is an experience which has Parnas counting himself lucky to be alive. “I’m alive. I’m healthy. I have my wife, my kids,” he said. “Sure God was with me that they didn’t shoot me. Money comes back. Money is gonna come back, and if not, it meant that it shouldn’t have happened. Life doesn’t come back,” Parnas added.
Miami-Dade Police are asking the public for their help in identifying the perpetrators. Anyone with information should call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
WOW he is very lucky. I am certain that he will make a nice kiddush and bentches HaGomel…
B”H he is alive and ok.