If You Rob Us in Rochester, You're Going To Be Caught, Shop Owner Says

The owner of a downtown Rochester jewelry shop that was robbed at gunpoint last fall said this week she is "extraordinarily happy and thankful" that the men who police say are responsible for the theft have been caught.

On Tuesday, Rochester Police announced the arrest of three men in connection with the robbery of Antiques and Fine Jewelry by Pamela. Two men, Johnny Matthew Hall, 32, of Troy, and Kevin Andrew Papuga, 22, of White Lake Township, were charged with armed robbery in the case. A third man, whom Rochester Police have not identified, is cooperating with police and was charged in Macomb County on an unrelated narcotics charge. 

"We hope this is a deterrent, that if you come and rob us in Rochester, you're going to be pursued until they catch you," shop owner Pamela Krampf said Tuesday afternoon.

Rochester Police Chief Steve Schettenhelm said a meal at Chicken Shack just before the Nov. 2 robbery of Pamela's ultimately led to the arrest.

"The owner and a manager at Chicken Shack called (after receiving an email alert about the robbery) to provide information that three suspicious subjects had been in their business just prior to the crime," Schettenhelm said. "They were also able to provide information that led to the name of one of those individuals."

Krampf expressed her gratitude for Schettenhelm, as well as detectives Frank Moon and Merlin Taylor, for their steadfast attention to the case. She also said she was thankful for the employees of Chicken Shack, who were instrumental in the arrests. 

"That's what being a good neighbor is," said Krampf, who was on her way back from a jewelry show in Las Vegas on Tuesday. 

A call to action

Along with expressing her gratitude, Krampf reiterated this week her feelings that downtown Rochester needs surveillance cameras installed in the streets and parking lots. 

"If there had been cameras in the street, the case would have been solved more quickly," Krampf said. 

She plans to approach city leaders about the possibility of installing the cameras. 

Krampf said 16 items that were stolen on that November day have been recovered; that represents about 5 percent of what was taken.

"We are going to continue to pursue this," Krampf said. "We are working on prosecution, then restitution." 

Related coverage:

• Woman Held at Gunpoint as 3 Men Rob Downtown Rochester Shop
• Downtown Rochester Jewelry Store Owner Vows to Put Robbery Behind Her
• Chicken Shack Tip Leads to Arrests in Downtown Rochester Jewelry Theft