Jewelry Maker Suspected of Stealing $1M in Jewelry

A jewelry maker in the Houston, TX, area has been charged with theft, and authorities believe there may be hundreds of victims in all.

Raul Hernandez, who has also used the name Arcega Hernandez, had a job interview with Studio 703 and Rebecca Lankford Designs and made a great first impression, KTRK reports. He performed some bench work as a tryout.

It was during the tryout that he was allegedly captured on camera stealing two rings. They belonged to a customer and were worth $10,000.

“He was well spoken, he was well dressed, he was kind. We were really excited honestly at the prospect of hiring him,” said Hannah Parker Rubin, the studio’s vice president. But “sure enough on the tapes, you clearly see him take the envelope that has her jewelry.”

An investigation began, and deputies in Harris County found that he’d pawned jewelry more than 450 times. The items were worth over $1 million in total.

The thefts are believed to have occurred over several years.

Read more at KTRK-TV