Headlines

$75,000 in Stolen Jewelry Found as Michigan Police Officer Stops to Help with Flat Tire

The items were allegedly taken from a UPS truck.

Published

2 years ago

February 7, 2022

INSTORE Staff

A police officer in Michigan stopped to help a motorist with a blown tire — and ended up finding $75,000 in stolen jewelry.

While offering help, the officer Brownstown Township Police Department noted that the man “was acting nervous and wanted to have someone pick him up quickly,” MLive reports.

The man consented to having the car searched, police stated. More than 60 jewelry items were found. Authorities found that the jewelry had been taken from a delivery truck at Southland Mall, according to MLive. Jewelers in the mall were sending the items out for repair.

Detective Lt. Andrew Starzec told the News-Herald of the Dec. 28 incident: “There were some pretty high-ticket pieces of jewelry in there. There were diamond rings, earrings and bracelets.” The jewelry has since been returned to the jewelry stores, according to the newspaper.

According to MLive, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office was still considering charges in the case.

When There’s No Succession Plan, Call Wilkerson

Bob Wesley, owner of Robert C. Wesley Jewelers in Scottsdale, Ariz., was a third-generation jeweler. When it was time to enjoy life on the other side of the counter, he weighed his options. His lease was nearing renewal time and with no succession plan, he decided it was time to call Wilkerson. There was plenty of inventory to sell and at first, says Wesley, he thought he might try to manage a sale himself. But he’s glad he didn’t. “There’s no way I could have done this as well as Wilkerson,” he says. Wilkerson took responsibility for the entire event, with every detail — from advertising to accounting — done, dusted and managed by the Wilkerson team. “It’s the complete package,” he says of the Wilkerson method of helping jewelers to easily go on to the next phase of their lives. “There’s no way any retailer can duplicate what they’ve done.”