Jewelry store customer trapped in locked room overnight in New York

2024-12-24 07:39:53 source: category:Scams

A jewelry store customer was trapped in a locked Diamond District safe room for about 10 hours overnight -- only freed when the doors, on a timer, popped open.

The 23-year-old man became locked inside the secure room inside 580 Fifth Avenue, which houses multiple small jewelry stores and vaults, just after 8 p.m. Tuesday, N.Y. Fire Department officials said.

He was checking his safety deposit box when the door to the room was locked from the outside -- trapping him in a 20-by-40-foot space.

Firefighters responded to a jewelry store in Manhattan's Diamond District, where a customer was trapped overnight in a locked room in New York on Oct. 24, 2023.WABC

The room was set on a timelock, not scheduled to reopen until start of business the next morning

Firefighters responded and cut through about 30 inches of concrete wall to free the man. But after about 10 hours of rescue work, they reached metal plating, which would have required torches to cut through.

Firefighters responded to a jewelry store in Manhattan's Diamond District, where a customer was trapped overnight in a locked room in New York on Oct. 24, 2023.WABC

Not wanting to unnecessarily spew smoke and fumes into the small space, firefighters decided to wait for the door to automatically open.

It automatically unlocked at about 6:15 a.m., freeing the man.

Firefighters responded to a jewelry store in Manhattan's Diamond District, where a customer was trapped overnight in a locked room in New York on Oct. 24, 2023.WABC

He is being evaluated, but appears to be physically OK, officials said.

Firefighters said the secure room “was closed by the people that own the vault. once the door is closed after 7 p.m. it locks automatically. its on a timer mechanism. it does not reopen until a certain time passes.”

They were talking on the man on the phone the entire time and had surveillance video showing him walking in.

More:Scams

Recommend

New York nursing home operator accused of neglect settles with state for $45M

NEW YORK (AP) — The operators of four nursing homes in New York will pay $45 million to settle claim

R. Kelly's Daughter Joann Kelly to Share a Heartbreaking Secret in Upcoming Documentary

R. Kelly's estranged daughter has been carrying a heartbreaking childhood secret.In a new documentar

ChatGPT maker OpenAI raises $6.6 billion in fresh funding as it moves away from its nonprofit roots

OpenAI said Wednesday it has raised $6.6 billion in venture capital investments as part of a broader