Suspect Coughs Up Diamond!

Because the client had their jewelry photographed (I assume as a part of an appraisal), the photo was quickly circulate and recognized! Nice job!

Reports: Suspect coughs up diamond
January 28, 2010 nationaljewelernetwork.com

Joplin, Mo.--A man suspected of stealing a 2-carat diamond ring literally coughed it up during police interrogations, according to published reports.

After a 23-year-old male and his 19-year-old girlfriend went into Joplin, Mo.'s Newton's Jewelry to have the ring appraised, store owner L.T. "Bunny" Newton recognized the ring, one that had recently been reported as stolen.

The ring, worth about $20,000 and featuring the diamond set between two sapphires, belonged to Comeau Jewelry customer Rebecca Moore, who was having repair work done on the ring and had picked it up from Comeau only hours before, according to a local paper, the Joplin Globe.

According to the Globe, Moore drove to a local mall after leaving Comeau. She parked, leaving her purse in the car, with the ring inside. Moore notified the police after discovering the theft.

Just hours later, at Newton's Jewelry, Newton recognized the ring as the same one from a photo Comeau had sent to local jewelers after the theft. Newton alerted the authorities, who showed up the store to find the couple, but not the ring.

During questioning at police headquarters, the male suspect began to cough violently, spitting up the diamond ring, police said.

Both the male and the 19-year-old female have been charged with receiving stolen property, reports say.