By Joe Valiquette
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — The FBI is now assisting the NYPD's investigation of Wednesday's deadly armed robbery of an Upper East Side jewelry store, a law enforcement official tells DNAinfo.
Agents from the FBI's Major Theft Squad have been working with NYPD detectives since Thursday to identify the killer and locate the jewelry stolen from the R.S. Durant store, FBI spokesman James Margolin said.
The gunman killed Henry Menahem, 71, and took nearly $1 million in jewels during the brazen noontime heist, according to the New York Times.
Investigators have been talking to long-time criminal informants to help in the investigation, and are also putting jewelry industry trade groups on alert to look for the stolen items, a law enforcement official said.
Whether the thief acted alone or had accomplices and how he may have disposed of the stolen jewelry is a major focus of the investigation, officials said.
The FBI says most organized criminal groups targeting retail jewelry stores in the U.S. are from South America, particularly Colombia, along with some Balkan groups.
Investigators said the jewelry taken in Wednesday's robbery may already have been sold for cash, or "fenced," in New York or in any of the other three major fencing hubs in the U.S. identified by the FBI — Miami, Houston and Los Angeles.
"Many jewel thieves have ongoing and well established relationships with fences who are part of the conspiracy," Margolin said.
Police described the suspect as a black male, 5'10", 160 lbs, wearing sunglasses, dark knit cap, blue coat, gray slacks and black gloves.
Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-557-TIPS.
