North Naples jewel thieves caught on camera

Published: Updated:
MGN

NAPLES, Fla.- Surveillance video captured perfect pictures of two men who created an elaborate plan to steal jewelry in North Naples.

Wednesday, two men waltzed into Paradise Jewelers. They acted friendly, mingled with both managers and even discussed custom jewelry. When they finally made a purchase, they pulled out a perfectly made credit card and the transaction went through.

The surveillance video is something you will only see on WINK News. It shows both men walking into the jewelry store, looking around and speaking with the staff.

They told managers they were shopping for a gift for one of their girlfriends.

“I gift wrapped it and he gave me his ID,” said store manager Bridigett Foreman. “They [ID and credit card] matched.”

The men were either bold or not observant of the cameras on the wall, or of the manager’s uneasy feelings.

“I had this feeling, because they almost looked like they were casing the store,” said Foreman. “My gut feeling told me to take a picture of the drivers license just in case.”

WINK News stood along side deputies and they viewed the surveillance footage. While viewing it, the deputy asked the manager, “What is he carrying in his right hand? The manager replied, “it’s the gift bag I gave him.”

In the bag was earrings worth more than $800.

Deputies say he was shopping with a fabricated credit card.

“The credit card went through no problems,” said Foreman.

The card had the man’s picture on it but the numbers belonged to someone else. The store didn’t find out the card was fraudulent until a credit agency and the victim called Friday.

“This afternoon I got a call from a gentleman asking about charges on his statement from the store,” said Foreman.

Paradise Jewelers called deputies. Now, deputies are hunting these brazen thieves who took the time to shop, talk to managers and even fill out a customer appreciation card.

Deputies say the men drove away in a brand new white dodge charger. If you know these men or see them, call the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.

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