Nearly $250,000 worth of merchandise was stolen from a
Tustin, Calif., jeweler who was followed home on June 9.

Tustin Police Lt. John Strain tells JCK the jewelry store owner was approached around 10 p.m. on June 9
outside of his gated community.

“He was coming back from a private showing and was getting
ready to enter the gated community in which he lives,” Strain says.

A motorcycle pulled up alongside him and a white pickup truck
soon followed, blocking the jeweler in the driveway. A suspect from the white
pickup truck hit the victim’s car with a crowbar to force entry into the
victim’s vehicle and took the items out of his car. No one was injured.

Police believe the jeweler was followed home
from the showing.

Inventory of the stolen merchandise is still being reviewed
but police believe its value is between $100,000 and $250,000.

Police are obtaining surveillance videos from the victim’s
route home and the gated community. The
investigation is ongoing.

John Kennedy, president of the Jewelers’ Security Alliance,
tells JCK jewelers who participate in
jewelry events should always use evasive driving techniques when returning home,
including driving slowly, making U-turns that don’t endanger yourself or other
drivers, making left turns, and driving around the block to see if anyone is
following you home. “If you can, pull into some place and turn around,” he
says.

JCK