Courtesy photo Hobbs Jewelers' surveillance camera captured images of a man that allegedly stole from the store.

Customer slips away with jewelry in Athens

By Holly Hollman
hhollman@decaturdaily.com · 340-2445

ATHENS — An Athens jewelry store fell victim to a customer Tuesday.

Police Lt. Floyd Johnson said the customer asked to see various pieces of jewelry at Hobbs Jewelers on U.S. 72 at about 12:30 p.m.

During his conversation with a store employee, he said he had a nugget in his vehicle that he might like to have put on one of the pieces.

"He never came back in the store, and when the employees started putting the jewelry back in the case, they noticed two pieces were missing."

Somehow the man managed to swipe a diamond bracelet worth $2,000 and a yellow gold chain worth $400.

The store's surveillance camera captured images of the man. Police hope someone will recognize him and turn him into authorities.

The black male is about 50 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs about 225 pounds.

Johnson said no other jewelry store in the area has reported a similar theft.

Anyone with information can call police at 233-8700.

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