Crime

Duo Wanted in Series of Distraction Thefts

CrimeJun 26, 2018

Duo Wanted in Series of Distraction Thefts

They are suspects in five jewelry thefts in California and two in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas--The Jewelers Security Alliance has issued an alert about a distraction duo wanted in seven jewelry thefts on the West Coast.

According to the JSA, the most recent incident occurred June 13 in a retail jewelry store located off a casino in one of the hotels.

The two suspects, described only as Hispanic males, came into the store at about 9 p.m. and went immediately to the area of the store that houses branded diamonds.

A sales associate showed the two men (pictured below in security camera stills) a diamond bracelet.

This security camera still is from the recent distraction theft perpetrated at a jewelry store in Las Vegas. The first suspect is a Hispanic male described as being in his 30s, between 5 feet 6 inches tall and 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 180 pounds. The second suspect is 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall weighing 230-plus pounds, and estimates of his age vary from 30s to 50s.
One of the suspects then moved the sales associate out of the line of sight of the branded diamond area, at which point his accomplice tested all the showcases until he found one with a faulty latch. He opened it, the JSA said, and removed a diamond necklace.

The same two men are suspects in a half-dozen other jewelry thefts pulled off using the distraction technique, stretching back to summer 2017.

According to the JSA, the pair hit stores in: Camarillo, California, on Aug. 27, 2017; Lakewood, California, on Sept. 7; Las Vegas on Oct. 19; West Covina, California, on Nov. 28; and two in Livermore, California, on Sept. 26, 2017 and June 8 of this year.

The JSA echoed the advice it gave about showcases following the theft of a 20-carat diamond at one of the recent Las Vegas jewelry trade shows: Don’t leave them unlocked unless removing or returning merchandise.

Michelle Graffis the editor-in-chief at National Jeweler, directing the publication’s coverage both online and in print.

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