Beach bandits grab 7 diamond rings

A trio of bandits made off with seven diamond rings Saturday during a jewelry heist at a Rehoboth Beach jeweler, police said Tuesday.

The incident occurred about 3:50 p.m. Saturday at the Dynasty Jewelry store at 42 Rehoboth Ave. where two men and a woman walked in and gathered around one of the display cases, Chief Keith Banks said.

While the clerk was on the other side of the store, the trio blocked her view and lifted the top glass on the display case and took a tray with seven diamond rings fastened to it. The jewelry was valued at between $20,000-$40,000.

When the clerk realized what the would-be customers were doing, she walked over and told them to return the jewelry, Banks said.

One man and the woman were able to run out of the store, headed south through the Penny Lane Mall.

The second man, who had the jewelry in his possession, broke free from the clerk who was holding his shirt and ran west on Rehoboth Avenue.

The man who was in possession of the jewelry was described as between 30-35 years old, about 6 feet tall, with short hair. He was wearing a dark purple polo shirt and dark-colored dress pants.

The other man was about the same height, with short hair, and was dressed in a blue polo shirt with horizontal stripes and dark dress pants.

The woman, who was about 5 feet 6 tall, was wearing a tapered collar-length wig, brown shirt and slacks.

The trio did not display any weapons, and made no threats, Banks said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Rehoboth Beach police at (302) 227-2577 or Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333.

Contact Terri Sanginiti at (302) 324-2771 or tsanginiti@delawareonline.com