On 5/18/22, at 4:10 p.m. a male subject approached a jewelry kiosk. The assistant manager asked if he could help him but the subject specifically asked for a female team member to help him. The subject asked to see earrings, but while at the earring display, he asked to see gold chains first, and he wanted to see a Cuban link with a diamond lion key.� After handing the chain to the subject, the team member looked down to close the display case and saw he was adjusting the key on the chain. He quickly tried it on and gave it back and asked to see a rope chain instead.
After the subject said he wanted to see earrings, the team member directed him to the earrings. � While putting the chain away, the team member noticed that it was broken and the assistant manager said to put it aside and they would figure it out after they were both done with their customers. While at the diamond earrings case, the subject asked to see a pair of $720 diamond earrings. He took a quick look and asked to see a pair of $650 instead, when the team member took them back she saw his hands switch and he tried handing her a pair of earrings that did not look like the type she gave him. The earrings also had a tag that said $850 instead of the $720. She told him she needed him to give back the pair of earrings she had just given him and he handed back the earrings and quickly left toward the main entrance. After he left, the team member re-checked the chain and saw it didn’t have a distinguishing stamp on it, instead, it had.925 written in the lobster claw, confirming he had switched the chain.
The subject was described as a light-skinned Black male. He is 5’7″, and weighs 180 pounds. He is in his mid to late 30s, and was last seen wearing a blue hoodie, a black hat, and a covid mask. He also carried two shopping bags. This subject is believed to have committed crimes in the Orlando, South Florida, and Tampa Bay markets. He often asks to see different items quickly and targets specific team members. If you have any information regarding this subject, please contact the Jewelers’ Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.