Expand / Collapse search
☰
Flood Watch
from WED 11:00 AM MST until WED 11:00 PM MST, Gila River Valley, Kofa, Central La Paz
8
Flood Watch
until WED 11:00 PM MST, Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains including Bisbee/Canelo Hills/Madera Canyon, Upper San Pedro River Valley including Sierra Vista/Benson, Baboquivari Mountains including Kitt Peak, Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains including Mount Lemmon/Summerhaven, Tohono O'odham Nation including Sells, Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys including Nogales, Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains including Mount Graham, Eastern Cochise County below 5000 ft including Douglas/Wilcox, Tucson Metro Area including Tucson/Green Valley/Marana/Vail, Southeast Pinal County including Kearny/Mammoth/Oracle, White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties including Hannagan Meadow, Western Pima County including Ajo/Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, South Central Pinal County including Eloy/Picacho Peak State Park, Chiricahua Mountains including Chiricahua National Monument, Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys including Clifton/Safford, Southeast Gila County, Southeast Valley/Queen Creek, Buckeye/Avondale, Superior, Pinal/Superstition Mountains, Cave Creek/New River, Aguila Valley, Scottsdale/Paradise Valley, New River Mesa, Rio Verde/Salt River, San Carlos, Fountain Hills/East Mesa, Globe/Miami, Sonoran Desert Natl Monument, Tonto Basin, Northwest Valley, Central Phoenix, Dripping Springs, Mazatzal Mountains, North Phoenix/Glendale, Northwest Pinal County, Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, South Mountain/Ahwatukee, East Valley, Tonopah Desert, Gila Bend, Deer Valley, West Pinal County
Flood Watch
from WED 1:00 AM MDT until THU 6:00 AM MDT, Black Mesa Area, Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau, Chinle Valley, Northeast Plateaus and Mesas Hwy 264 Northward, Northeast Plateaus and Mesas South of Hwy 264
Flood Watch
from WED 12:00 AM MST until THU 5:00 AM MST, Northern Gila County, Coconino Plateau, White Mountains, Kaibab Plateau, Yavapai County Mountains, Yavapai County Valleys and Basins, Little Colorado River Valley in Coconino County, Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County, Oak Creek and Sycamore Canyons, Eastern Mogollon Rim, Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County, Grand Canyon Country, Western Mogollon Rim, Marble and Glen Canyons
Flood Advisory
from WED 9:27 AM MST until WED 11:30 AM MST, Pima County
Flood Advisory
until WED 11:15 AM MST, Greenlee County, Graham County
Flood Advisory
until WED 10:00 AM MST, Graham County
Special Weather Statement
until WED 10:00 AM MST, Southeast Gila County, Pinal/Superstition Mountains, Tonto Basin, Globe/Miami

Mesa PD looking for man caught on camera stealing thousands of dollars worth of diamonds

By
FOX 10 Phoenix
Crime and Public Safety
Published August 21, 2019 5:11 PM MST
Published August 21, 2019 5:11 PM MST
Video poster

MESA, Ariz. - Mesa police are asking for the public's help in identifying and catching the man involved in a brazen diamond heist. The thief's face, even his tattoos, are all clearly seen in surveillance video - and helping find the suspect could pay off for someone.

Police aren't searching for a diamond in the rough, but rather a crooked thief in this case. The man was caught on surveillance camera running with two large, princess-cut diamonds worth about $36,000. The jewelry store owner says the thief visited the store twice. The first time, he brought a little boy with him. 

"He identified him as his son, 4-years-old I think," said Daniel O'Donnell, owner of Arizona Diamond Center. "It's sad, he's 4-years-old, just along for the ride."

The suspect returned another day, alone. Again, he asked to look at jewelry worth more than $10,000. He allegedly acted as if he was going to inspect the loose diamond with a magnifying glass. He grabs the gem, along with the pad holding an engagement ring, and runs off.

"We've been in business for 37 years," said O'Donnell. "This is not the first time we've had a grab and run."

But O'Donnell says he's surprised this thief was brazen enough to pull this one off knowing he was under surveillance and allowing cameras to capture his face so clearly. The larger diamond is marked, but not all pawn shops check.

"One [diamond] in particular has a laser inscription, so if the jeweler sees the inscription and reports it, we'll know exactly which one it is," O'Donnell said.

O'Donnell said the thief stole a 2-carat princess-cut loose diamond and a 1-and-a-half carat princess-cut diamond engagement ring.

"We are offering a reward of $1,000 for information that leads to the recovery of the merchandise or the arrest and prosecution of this guy," O'Donnell said.

Police say the suspect got into a black SUV, possibly a Chevy, and a getaway driver was waiting. The SUV had an Arizona, ASU license plate.

Anyone who might know the suspect or have any information in this case is asked to call the Mesa Police Department at (480) 644-2211.