The incident was captured by surveillance cameras at 7:20 p.m. Sunday at the TJ Maxx store on Route 73 in Evesham Township.
Video shows a man in dark clothing and a ski mask walking into the store, approaching the jewelry counter and smashing the display case with a rock.
Police say as he was loading $25,797.00 worth of watches into a bag, an active member of the U.S. Air Force saw what has happening and ran toward the suspect, who began to flee.
The Air Force man is seen in the upper left corner of the surveillance video tackling the suspect to the ground.
A brief struggle ensues before the suspect is able to break free.
Police say the suspect got away, but not before losing his face mask and leaving behind the stolen merchandise.
The suspect is described as a light-skinned black man with light facial hair in his late 20s.
Anyone with information on the case or the suspect is asked to contact the Evesham Police Department at 856-983-1116, the Confidential Tip Line at 856-983-4699, email Facebook@Eveshampd.org, or Anonymous tips text ETPDTIP to 847411.
