Kentucky Woman Swallows Ring After Switch Theft

Police in Richmond, Ky., charged a woman in connection with
a bait-and-switch theft that occurred at the Castle jewelry store on July 5.

Richmond Police charged Melissa Jones on July 6 with
receiving stolen property under $10,000.

According to a Richmond Police press release, Jones and a
male allegedly entered the Castle on July 5 and asked to look at a diamond
bridal ring worth approximately $3,300. While looking at the ring, Jones and
the man allegedly switched another ring for the diamond bridal ring. When
employees confronted the suspects, they abruptly left the store.

Castle owner Phil Block tells JCK it was a typical switch. “They were a little bit hurried and
wanted to see more than one ring at a time,” he says.

Employees were alerted when Jones physically put the ring
back in the box without the employee’s assistance. “We always train our staff
to put the item back in the box themselves, check the tags, and inspect it,”
Block says. “We immediately knew it wasn’t our jewelry.”

Jones was arrested July 5 on outstanding warrants but
further investigation identified Jones as the woman involved in the Castle
theft. 

During a follow-up investigation, it was discovered Jones allegedly
swallowed the ring.

“The guy with her was let off and was bragging to one of his
neighbors that she had swallowed the ring and the neighbor called our manager,
so we followed up with the police,” Block says.

An x-ray conducted at a local hospital confirmed the ring
was in her body. The ring has not been recovered.

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