Authorities are searching for a man and woman wanted in connection with the theft of more than $40,000 worth of jewelry from Watches Unlimited inside Augusta Mall.
According to a report filed by Deputy Joshua Williams, the incident occurred around 3:15 p.m. Tuesday. Store owner Ismail Azeem reported the crime the following day after reviewing surveillance footage and speaking with his employee, Daniel Vo, who was working at the time.
The video shows a black male and black female entering the store together. While the woman engaged Vo in an extended conversation, the male suspect moved through the store attempting to access locked jewelry cases. He eventually succeeded in opening one display, stealing a 10K diamond necklace with a 35-carat diamond and 156 grams of gold, valued at $28,000. The man then moved behind the counter and took a second item, a 14K white gold Gucci bracelet valued at $12,000.
Vo later told deputies he believed he had accidentally left one of the display doors unlocked due to being overwhelmed with work. He became suspicious after speaking with the woman for an extended period without a sale and noticed the man behind the counter. Vo said the man claimed he hadn’t taken anything and dropped a bent hanger before leaving the store.
The suspects remain at large. The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information about the woman or her male accomplice to contact Investigator Clifford Banks or any on-call investigator at 706-261-0425 or 706-821-1020.
