March 09--After operating a jewelry store in Western Springs for 43 years, Tamaki Ogura was devastated in January when he discovered that his entire inventory of fine jewelry had been stolen in what police are calling a "sophisticated" heist.
"They took everything -- 100 percent. I have nothing to sell," said Ogura, 78, who lives in Darien with his wife, Emmeline.
Ogura has since closed Ogura Jewelry at 53 Garden Market.
Deputy Police Chief Brian Budds said Wednesday March 9that entry to the building was made through the roof.
"It was rather a sophisticated entry," he said.
The crime was reported at 10 a.m. Jan. 11. Ogura said the burglars made a hole in the roof of a neighboring doctor's office, then made another hole through a common wall between the doctor's office and his store and then cut holes in the back of two safes to steal the items.
"They knew what they were doing," Ogura said.
Ogura broke his neck in June 2015 when he fell down some stairs. He wasn't in the store as much as he would've been previously and often a co-worker was manning the store. Prior to the heist, he said some people came in and said they needed to investigate the roof.
Budds said the police didn't make the crime public at the time because it was an active investigation.
"We're still following up on leads," Budds said.
Ogura said he also operated a wholesale business and all of that inventory also was kept in the Western Springs store. He said insurance has not yet covered his losses.
"They don't pay. Maybe they will pay one day," he said.
Ogura isn't counting on ever seeing his merchandise again.
"My experience is once you lose your merchandise you never get it back," he said.
Though the theft led to the closure of his business, Ogura said he is trying to remain positive.
"Nobody was injured. Everybody is healthy," he said.
He also tries to put the theft into perspective.
"It's sad. But sadness is everywhere."
Ogura is a father of four adult children and five grandchildren. He emigrated from Japan in 1963 and got into the jewelry business through a friend.
"My background was as an accountant so I knew how to start a business," he said.
Sitting with his wife in his kitchen in his home in Darien, he said he doesn't know what he will do next.
"I don't know if I have enough confidence to go back into wholesale jewelry," he said.
"Maybe you can make custom jewelry," his wife suggested.
"I've got to do something," he said.
amannion@tripub.com
