Man uses sleight of hand to steal $21K ring in Maryland

Police say the suspect was last seen wearing a black knit hat, dark rimmed glasses, a knee length black wool coat, a grey sweater, white or light colored collared shirt, and dark pants and shoes. (Courtesy Annapolis Police Department)

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) – Authorities say a man used a sleight-of-hand trick to steal a $21,000 ring right under the noses of employees at a downtown Annapolis jewelry store.

Annapolis Police Cpl. Amy Miguez said Friday that the theft occurred Thursday morning at La Belle Cezanne.

She says a man walked into the shop and chatted up employees. As they spoke, Miguez says the man was able to put a Princess Diana-style diamond and sapphire white gold ring into his coat.

Only after the man left did employees realize the ring was gone.

Police are passing out a surveillance photo of the man, who’s in his mid- to late-50s and about 6 feet tall. He was wearing dark-rimmed glasses, a grey sweater over a collared shirt, dark pants and shoes, and black wool coat.