Saint John store owner feels violated after $10,000 diamond taken

The owner of a Saint John jewelry storebelieveshe was the target of professional thieves aftera middle-aged couple came in asking to look at diamonds and soon after, staff discovered a $10,000stone was swapped for a fake.

This isn't the first time someone has stolen from Wayne Smith, but in the 24 years he's owned his Brunswick Square jewelry store, this may be theslickesttheft he's encountered.

Late lastFridayafternoon, Smith said a man and a woman asked to see loose stones at W. Smith and Co. FineJewellers. An employee was in the process of showing the couple a one carat diamond, and Smith said they struck when she turned her backto reach for a diamond sizing chart.

"They were very professional and very smooth," Smith said."They were able to take the stone and switch it as she turned her back to grab the chart."

Smith said the couple asked to see a larger diamond and when the man attempted to handle it, his employee got suspicious.

"They left the store, we went back on the tape," said Smith.

He said from watching the tape, hediscovered the real diamond likely ended up in the man's back pocket.In place of the $10,000 diamond, Smith said the man swapped a cubiczirconia.

"They are very slick," he said, suspecting the pair have pulled off similar capers.

Seeking the swappers

Perhaps because of their age and bright clothing, the store originally suspected the couple to be cruise ship passengers. Saint John Police Force Sgt. CharlesBreensaid in a statement an officer did go through passenger identifications with the port -and, while that avenue hasn't been ruled out completely, it's not where the investigation is leading now.

"We do have a person of interest that we are going to speak with,"he said.

Despite losing a valuable stone in the theft, Smith admits he was a little reticent about sharing the story. Other jewelry stores which have experienced thefts in the past are often embarrassed,he said. While he shares that feeling, he said the principle is what made him go public.

"This is my inventory, I've paid for it, it's like having something stolen when somebody breaks into your house," said Smith. "You feel violated."

Smith said he's thankful for the high definition security cameras he installed in the store.While the couple may have tricked his staff, he's certain they didn't pull a fast one on the cameras.

Smith is releasing the photos and video of the caper,which he hopes will lead to an arrest. For the return of the diamond, he'spromising a generous reward.

While Smith crosses his fingers andhopes the diamond turns up, he has changed a storepolicy to preventfuture thefts. From now on, anyone handling loose stones will be required to offer photo identification.