BIRMINGHAM, Mich. – Police are looking for a man who robbed two jewelry stores in downtown Birmingham within two days.
The police described him as a "smooth-talking jewelry thief." The man robbed Merwins Antiques Gallery on North Old Woodward on Wednesday, and two days later, he robbed Legacy Jewelry a couple of blocks over.
During the robbery at Merwins Antiques, the owner, Ron Winter, was unpacking from a show.
"I'm aware, like don't be distracted, yet I let myself be distracted," Winter said.
Winter said the thief began asking him questions.
"He was very polite, saying, ‘Am I taking up too much of your time?’ and I said, ‘No, I'm just unpacking.’ He said, ‘You mind if I look around?’ and I said, ‘Feel free,’ and he was looking around and then I started to feel edgy because he was opening cases on his own and I said, ‘Please don't do that,’" Winter said.
He said the man went to his car.
"He asked if I could tell him if something was jade and I said, ‘Yeah, of course,’ so he brought this little bag in, and it said 'Victoria's Secret' on it, that should have given me a hint. He got over really fast and he asked me to look at something over here, and then I hear a rattling back here so I go back there," he said.
The man stole over $10,000 worth of jewelry including watches, rings, a pearl necklace and three diamond necklaces.
Two days later, he stole an antique necklace from Legacy Jewelry, valued at about $1,000.
The Birmingham Police Department is hoping the public can help identify the suspect. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact police at 248-530-1774.
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