By Jeremy Desel
Houston (KHOU/CNN) - A Romanian crime family is still on the run a year after allegedly stealing more than $1 million worth of gold from a Houston jewelry store.
Police don't have much to go on, except that they have stealing down to a science.
The crime was caught by surveillance cameras.
It's not just magicians that are masters of distraction. Police say a traveling family crime crew has it down too.
"Distraction. They have a whole lot going on," said Officer Kevin Simper.
It starts right at opening; three women in traditional Indian clothes, one holding a baby, all planned.
"It made them feel at ease. It made them feel comfortable with them," said Officer Simper.
After the women come two young men. Then two older men, all appearing to shop but really just distracting the store owner and his wife so one woman can slip behind the counter to the safe, which is open because the store is still getting set up.
"She knows what's back there and she is gonna try and get it all," said Officer Simper.
She puts it in a huge pouch sewn into her skirt.
"She is just loading up," said Officer Simper.
In all, the family crime crew was inside the store for just about 20 minutes, but they did plenty of damage in that time, getting away with more than $1.7 million worth of gold.
"Gold bars and assorted gold jewelry. Most of it is gold bars," said Officer Simper.
They even get caught. When the woman tries to get out, the store owner finally notices her, leaving the crew scrambling to explain, at this point, locked in the store.
"And he goes back to the safe to check," said Officer Simper.
But again the crew splits up. The two men focusing on hitting the door open button, pushing the clerk out of the way to do it.
"He'll go back to check it again and then he realizes how much is gone," said Officer Simper.
At that point the crew is free. The woman's skirt is so heavy she doesn't walk, she waddles.
Three days after the theft, police say the family tried to sell some of the gold to a New York jeweler.
That led to the arrest of one woman in Canada.
Police have identified at least three other members of the crew, and are searching for them.
KHOU/CNN