Men sought in connection with jewelry heist

17 diamond bracelets stolen from OÃ¢EUR(TM)ConnellÃ¢EUR(TM)s

November 14, 2007|By ERIN JULIUS

Washington County Sheriff's deputies on Wednesday were looking for two men wanted in connection with a jewelry heist Saturday at O'Connell's Jewelry Store at Valley Mall, Investigator James Sword said.

One of the men distracted store employees while the other reached into a case, unlocked it and took 14 to 17 diamond bracelets, deputies said Wednesday.

The jewelry was worth $45,000 to $50,000, investigators said in a news release.

Both men left the store and went to a parking lot near Sears. Several customers chased the men, but lost sight of them in the parking lot, Sword said Wednesday in a telephone interview.

No weapons were shown during the robbery, and no one was injured.

Investigators do not have a vehicle description, but witnesses said that in another store before the heist, the men had been asking for directions to Interstate 70, Sword said.

The first man was described as black, in his mid- to late 30s, about 6 feet 3 inches tall with a medium build, investigators said.

The second man was described as black, also in his mid- to late 30s, with a receding hairline. He had a mustache and a gap between his front teeth. He was wearing a dark sports coat and gray pants.

Witnesses described both men as well-dressed and well-groomed, investigators said.

The first man was looking at a pearl display with a store clerk and another clerk was watching the second man, Sword said. When a group of customers entered the store, the second store clerk went to help them and the second man opened the case of diamond bracelets, the investigator said.

Saturday's incident closely resembles previous thefts, Sword said.

Anyone with information may call investigators at 240-313-2170 or 240-313-2186.

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