$233,000 lost in jewellery stores scam

The two men in Diamond Shop on Queen Street. Photo / Supplied

Police are on the hunt for two men who swiped diamond rings worth $233,000 from jewellery stores by distracting staff standing nearby.

The Asian men are believed to have stolen the rings from two stores in central and south Auckland.

The thefts happened on December 11. Police have released an image of the men in the hopes of identifying them and finding the rings.

The men struck first at The Diamond Shop in Queen St and viewed a number of expensive rings.

They chose a ring worth $33,000, gave a $200 deposit and asked if it could be put into a sealed box until they could return to pay the balance in two days.

One of the men signed the seal across the box and then they distracted the salesperson for long enough to remove the ring. When they failed to return to the store, staff opened the box and discovered the ring was missing.

Later that day the men went to a Michael Hill Jewellers store in central Auckland and asked for an "expensive diamond ring".

Staff at the store found such a ring at their Manukau store and, believing the men were legitimate "sales professionals", drove them to view the ring they wanted, worth $200,000.

At the store the men paid a deposit of US$1000 for the ring and made arrangements to come back and pay the balance, again in two days. But they never came back and when staff reopened the box days later the ring was gone.

CONTACT POLICE

If you have any information, contact Andre Rangi at Counties Manukau police on 09 261-1300, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555-111.