Tourneau store robbed of Rolex and Breitling watches in early morning heist

A "smash, enter and grab" burglar made off with $150,00 to $200,000 worth of high-priced watches shortly before 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning from the Tourneau store at 52nd St. and Madison Ave., police said.

After trying to smash through the front door of the store, the six-feet-tall man managed to break a window and then crawled into the store, grabbing handfuls of Breitling and Rolex watches. His most expensive find in the cache of 20 - 30 watches is thought to be a Gold Prince Rolex, which retails for about $17,000, police said.

The store alarm signaled a private security firm, which then notified police a burglary was in progress. "This whole thing was probably about five to 10 minutes long," said a police source. Cops were analyzing video footage from the store and surrounding areas to obtain a clearer image of the thief.

Police said it is unlikely that this burglary is connected to the Madison Jewelers robbery on Sept. 28, in which two well-dressed men entered a store in the afternoon and then held employees at gunpoint and used pepper spray to make off with about $36,00 worth of Rolex watches and jewelry. However, the investigation "is still in the works."