$100,000 in Gems and Jewelry Stolen from Mine

Thieves took about $100,000 in gems and gold jewelry from an emerald mine in North Carolina, the Charlotte Observer reports.

The heist took place at Emerald Hollow Mine in Hiddenite, NC, on Saturday.

Someone entered through a window into a room where gems are cut, kept and sold, according to the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office.

Display cases and other cases had been pried open. Two safes had been gone through, and gems awaiting pickup by customers were stolen.

Among the stolen items were $60,000 of emerald jewelry, emerald pieces and uncut emerald pieces, according to the sheriff’s office.

Jason Martin, owner of the mine, told the Observer: “We had emeralds the size of quarters and they are gone. Among the gems taken were rare examples of Hiddenite, a stone found no where else in the world.”

Read more at the Charlotte Observer