Search continues for Erie jewelry store thief - GoErie.com
Erie police released surveillance video images of a man accused of stealing rings from a downtown jewelry store on Tuesday, and were looking for other video in an effort to track his movements after leaving the store, as the investigation into the heist continued on Thursday.
The unknown male is accused of stealing 71 diamond rings and wedding bands, with a total estimated value of $28,000 to $30,000, after using a store key to open a display at Ralph Miller Jewelers & Gallery, 28 W. Eighth St., on Tuesday. Store employees reported the theft to Erie police at about 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday.
According to investigators, the man returned to the store on Tuesday after visiting it last week and showing interest in a pair of earrings that he said he wanted to buy. The man would not give store employees his name or other information during the initial visit, according to investigators.
At one point during his visit on Tuesday the man took an employee into another room of the store to look at a pendant, and after they returned to the main room he went back into the other room unnoticed and used store keys to open a display case and steal the rings, detectives said. The key used to open the case was also stolen.
The man was seen fleeing south on State Street after the theft.
Investigators obtained images of the suspect taken from the store's surveillance video cameras and posted them on the Erie Police Department Facebook page Wednesday in an effort to generate tips to help identify the suspect, Erie police Lt. Julie Kemling said Thursday. Police stated in the posting that the suspect might not be from the Erie area.
Investigators are also checking other video surveillance systems in downtown Erie to see if they can better track the man's movements after he left the jewelry store, Kemling said.
The suspect was described as a black male in his 40s or 50s who was about 5 feet, 8 inches tall and about 220 pounds. He had a stocky build and was wearing a back leather jacket, a black winter hat and black dress pants and was carrying a black bag described as resembling a woman's purse.
The theft is the second one involving a large amount of jewelry taken from Ralph Miller Jewelers & Gallery this year. In February, 19 diamond rings and a watch were stolen after an employee was led into a backroom.
The investigation into the February theft led to the filing of criminal charges against two Ohio residents. Wendy R. Calliens, 59, of Cleveland, pleaded guilty in October to a charge of conspiracy to commit theft and was sentenced to two years, three months to seven years in prison. Paul E. Smartt, 59, of Solon, pleaded no contest in October to a conspiracy to commit theft charge and was sentenced to two to seven years in prison, according to court records.
Anyone with information on Tuesday's theft is asked to call Erie police Detective Roberta Raszkowski at 870-1152 or the Erie police officer in charge at 870-1120.
Tim Hahn can be reached at 870-1731 or by email. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNhahn.
