Man arrested in 'goofy' jewelry theft
DAVE KOLPACK
Associated Press
FARGO, N.D. - Diamond earrings stolen from a college fundraiser were recovered when a Minnesota man tried to have them appraised at the jewelry store that donated them, authorities said.
Police said the man was arrested after he brought the $4,600 earrings to Wimmer's Jewelry at the West Acres mall. Store owner Brad Wimmer said the man had the original box along with the description of the jewelry.
"It was all very goofy," Wimmer said. "The value of the earrings was right on the description."
Charges were pending against the 23-year-old suspect, from Ada, Minn.
Wimmer's had donated the earrings to the North Dakota State University Development Foundation for its silent auction. They apparently were stolen from a storage area sometime during the Oct. 21-22 event, said Jason Wohlman, a development foundation spokesman.
"We're very happy they've been recovered," Wohlman said. "It was a very generous donation."
Wimmer said he alerted his employees and other jewelry stores after the earrings were reported stolen. He said it was unique jewelry that could be easily recognized.
"We put it out there in case someone wanted to trade them or sell them," Wimmer said. "But we figured it was the long shot of long shots."
Wimmer said his employees quickly identified the earrings when the suspect brought them in on Tuesday. He was told it would take a day to do the appraisal and left his name and phone number with Wimmer.
Wimmer said he called the man on Wednesday and told him the appraisal was finished. When the man arrived at the store, Wimmer pretended he was on a long-distance phone call until police arrived.
"He knew the jig was up when police came in the store," Wimmer said.
Police have no record of any previous criminal history for the suspect, Lt. Tod Dahle said.
"The part that's a little hard to understand is that he came back to the same place the earrings came from," Dahle said.
Dumbass.
