Armed suspect with machete, pickaxe detained by customers during Costco jewelry heist: reports
Police arrest 24-year-old man after alleged armed robbery at a Greenville, South Carolina, Costco
Check out what's clicking on FoxBusiness.com.
A machete- and pickaxe-wielding man was arrested after allegedly smashing into a jewelry display at a South Carolina Costco before customers and employees helped detain him, according to local reports.
Greenville police responded Thursday to the Costco on Woodruff Road after receiving reports of an armed robbery in progress, WSPA 7News reported, citing the Greenville Police Department.
Police identified the suspect as 24-year-old Jose Alejandro Giraldo, who allegedly entered the store and broke into display cases at the jewelry counter.
Giraldo was equipped with a machete and pickaxe and allegedly indicated that he had a gun when confronted, according to WSPA.
POPULAR RESTAURANT AT DISNEY SHOPPING AREA ROBBED BY SUSPECT IN SCUBA GEAR
A Costco storefront and suspect Jose Giraldo. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images; Greenville County Detention Center)
FOX Carolina similarly reported, citing police, that callers initially described the weapon used to break the display cases as appearing to be a hammer. Police later confirmed Giraldo had a machete and pickaxe, the outlet reported.
Costco shoppers scramble for a free sample of Phillips Foods Lobster Meat during the grand opening of a new store in North Port, Florida. (Mike Lang/Sarasota Herald-Tribune/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Customers detained Giraldo inside the warehouse store until officers arrived, according to FOX Carolina.
Store employees also reportedly helped restrain the suspect.
One customer was injured while helping subdue Giraldo, prompting a response from emergency medical personnel, according to WSPA. The outlet did not immediately report the extent of the customer's injuries.
A Costco store in Vallejo, California, on May 29, 2025. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg)
Giraldo was charged with armed robbery and third-degree assault and battery, according to both outlets.
A mugshot of Giraldo was subsequently released by the Greenville County Detention Center.
CLICK HERE TO GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO
FOX Business has reached out to the Greenville Police Department for comment and additional details about the incident.