A small business owner is asking for help identifying two thieves who posed as customers and stole over $100,000 worth of rings and other items from his Orange County jewelry store.
On Sept. 17, a man and woman walked into OC Diamond Estate Jewelry on Glassell Street and asked owner Samy Soliman to see some of his more expensive pieces.
Soliman thought they seemed like normal customers, “They were well-dressed, and they really have expensive jewelry on them,” he recounted to KTLA’s Chip Yost.
Serving the customers, Soliman said he got some boxes of the more expensive jewelry that he thought might interest them.
“Then my phone rang,” explained Soliman. “I left the boxes for a second. She pulled one of the boxes out, put it on the seat slowly. I didn’t notice because I can’t see her because of her boyfriend in front of my eyes.”
When Soliman got off the phone, the woman engaged him in conversation while the man put the box in his pants, covered it with his T-shirt and walked out.
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The man hides a box of expensive jewelry in his pants while the woman distracts the store owner, who is standing behind the counter, with conversation. September 2024. (Viewer photo) -
The couple walks out of the store with the box of jewelry tucked under the man’s clothes. September 2024. (Viewer photo) -
Small business owner Samy Soliman reenacts how he was showing the couple an expensive array of jewelry moments before the heist happened when he turned his back. October 2024. (KTLA) -
Security footage shows two people stealing over $100K worth of jewelry from OC Diamond Estate Jewelry. September 2024. (Viewer photo)
“I didn’t see nothing till when I’m putting the stuff away, I am missing a box,” said Soliman.
Soliman said the thieves got away with dozens of some of his most expensive jewelry.
“It’s stealing, and simply enough, it’s ruining my life for a long time,” shared Soliman. “Because even if I make this much money in the past three, four years, it’s gone. So it’s a big loss.”
The store’s Instagram account posted security footage of the theft, asking followers and other viewers to help find the couple.
Anyone with information or who can help identify the man and woman in the video is encouraged to contact the Orange Police Department.
