A Monterey jewelry store owner is out $20,000 after a brazen Valentine’s Day theft, captured on surveillance video, left him stunned. Steve Saunders, owner of Steve Saunders Master Jeweler in downtown Monterey, says the theft unfolded without him even realizing it at the time.
“Valentine’s Day is supposed to be about romance, love, and good business. You don’t expect something like this to happen,” Saunders said.
The incident, recorded on the store’s security cameras, shows a man and a woman entering the store. The footage captures the pair asking to see multiple high-value items. Saunders, eager to make a sale, quickly retrieved the jewelry for them.
“I was so excited about making a big sale that it was all I could think about,” Saunders admitted.
The couple asked Saunders to place the jewelry in a box, wrap it in a plastic bag, and secure it for them. They then left a $200 deposit, promising to return after withdrawing more money from the bank.
However, the pair never came back. Suspicious, Saunders checked the safe where he had stored the bag.
“As soon as I picked up the bag, my heart sank. I could tell immediately that the box was empty,” he said.
Saunders believes the theft was carried out through sleight of hand while he was distracted. The Monterey Police Department is now investigating the incident.
When asked what he would say to the thieves if they were watching, Saunders replied, “I’m going to find you.”
In an effort to recover the stolen items, Saunders is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspects.
The surveillance footage has been shared with authorities, and the investigation remains ongoing.
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