Headlines

Jewelry Store Robber Dressed as Construction Worker in California Heist

About $50,000 in custom jewelry was stolen.

Published

3 weeks ago

November 6, 2023

INSTORE Staff

A jewelry store in Prunedale, CA, was robbed at gunpoint by a man dressed as a construction worker.

The crime happened at Country Jeweler in the Prune Tree Shopping Center, KSBW-TV reported. About $50,000 in custom jewelry was stolen.

According to a bulletin from the Jewelers’ Security Alliance, the suspect entered the store at 4 p.m. on Oct. 27 wearing an orange helmet, orange vest and bright yellow shirt and carrying a pink bucket. He “asked confusing and disturbing questions about directions” and was asked to leave, JSA reported.

He left, but returned a few minutes later and robbed the store, pulling a handgun from the bucket. During the incident an employee fell and sustained an injury.

Anyone with information is asked to contact JSA at 212-687-0328 or jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org.

JSA noted: “Criminals will sometimes wear clothing to lead sales associates to think they are legitimate customers. For example, construction clothing in this case, but also such things as hospital scrubs. Extra caution may be called for.”

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.”