Aug 20, 2008 12:44 pm US/Pacific
Tahoe Jewel Thief Wanted In Three States
Thief Has Hit In Three States Including California
(CBS13)
The FBI is now offering a reward of up to $10,000 to catch a violent jewel thief who has struck in three states including California.
The jewelry store robberies started back in June of 2007 and have netted the thief more than $150,000 worth of jewels. One of the heists happened at Steve Schmier's Jewelry in Tahoe City of August last year. A few days later, a few miles away in State Line, Nevada, J.P. Chadom Jewelers was hit. In each of the robberies, the thief brandishes a black semi-automatic handgun and orders employees and customers to the floor.
The FBI believes the same thief is also responsible for two robberies in Eugene, Oregon. No one was hurt in any of the incidents.
Most of the stolen jewels have been recovered, including many that the robbers pawned at shops in Portland and Eugene. The FBI also believes the robber or robbers used a stolen Oregon driver's license to open and then empty a bank account in San Francisco using a check taken during one of the robberies.
The first suspect is described as a white man in his 20's, 5'10" to 6' tall weighing 160-180 pounds with dark hair.
A second suspect who appears to be Asian is also wanted for questioning but there are few details on his description.
The FBI believes the suspects may live in or have connections to San Francisco, Portland, Eugene or Reno, Nevada.
Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at (503) 224-4181 in Portland or the Eugene Police Department at (541) 682-5175.
Note to media:
Photo #1 is a surveillance picture taken during the October 6, 2007, robbery in Eugene
Photos #2, 3 and 4 are bank surveillance pictures related to the stolen check
Photo #5 is a surveillance picture from one of the pawn shops
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