MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- One of three people who authorities believe was involved in the theft or attempted theft of jewelry from malls in four states last year was arraigned Thursday in Berkeley County Magistrate Court in connection with an incident at Martinsburg Mall, according to records.
Bruce Timothy Shelton, 48, of Hillcrest Heights, Md., was charged with grand larceny on July 9, 2007. The charge stemmed from the theft of six diamond rings from Friedman's Jewelers, according to court records.
Shelton was in Eastern Regional Jail Thursday night on $15,000 bond, according to jail records.
According to Martinsburg Police Department Patrolman Q.D. Burner's complaint, Shelton arrived at the jewelry store with a woman, and he distracted the sales associate by holding a ring out to the side, according to court records.
A second male suspect approached the open jewelry case from behind the sales associate and took a ring display holding six rings valued at $16,005, put them under his shirt and walked out of the store, Burner said.
