Jewelry

Man keeps up charade inside Duncan jewelry store after stealing from display case - KOCO Oklahoma City

The oldest jeweler in Duncan was robbed by a thief who police said made his move when the clerk turned his back for just a second.

That quick-moving crook, however, was caught on camera, and Duncan police said they hope they will catch him.

Police said a man entered Payne Jewelers, was friendly and seemed interested in buying jewelry.

"The guy was a pretty clean-cut guy," said Charles Rucker, president of Payne Jewelers. "He was personable."

The man's browsing behavior quick turned criminal. After eyeing a display case, he took five sets of diamond wedding rings.

"Looked around the entire store and everything, but we had a slight distraction at the moment when we decided to reach (an agreement)," Rucker said.

And the man committed the crime just as Rucker had come back to help.

"I came around the corner, he put it in his pockets. Just missed him; just barely," Rucker said.

The man, however, didn't take off. In fact, he stayed and continued to keep up a customer-like appearance.

"He walked over and talked with me," Rucker said. "I gave him my business card and then he left right after that."

No one suspected a thing until the next day.

"Didn't realize until the next morning when we were putting out and immediately called Duncan police," Rucker said.

Police said the man might have been caught on camera at another store.