The attacks occurred in Canberra earlier this year, with Exquisite Jewellers at Kippax Fair shopping centre hit on 30 March and Diamond Ring Designs at Gungahlin Village shopping complex targeted the following day.
Both incidents, which received considerable media attention, involved a stolen car that was driven through each shopping centre and then rammed into the front facades of the stores.
At the time, the jewellery business owners estimated that a combined total of about $38,000 in stock had been stolen, including gold and diamond jewellery.
In April, police arrested two men aged 18 and 20, identified by media as Dylan Bowler and Michael Johnstone, respectively.
In addition to both jewellery robberies, Bowler was linked to a series of burglaries at six other businesses located in Canberra. A police report indicated that the combined value of stolen property and damage was in excess of $160,000, and more than 20 charges were laid against the 18-year-old.
Bowler reportedly pleaded guilty to 24 offences and was last week sentenced to 4.5 years in jail with a non-parole period of 20 months.
Johnstone is said to have faced court in April for the Gungahlin robbery, pleading not guilty to charges including burglary, property damage, driving a stolen vehicle and arson. He was later denied bail.
Allan Russell, owner of Diamond Ring Designs, told Jeweller it had been difficult to recover from the burglary and that he was working seven-day weeks in order to keep the business afloat.
“We’re slowly getting there,” he said. “I think it will improve. All we can do is keep our fingers crossed and just keep on going.”
It is believed Johnstone is awaiting sentencing, while Bowler’s accomplice in the Kippax Fair raid remains unknown.
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