Man In Fake Fatigues Steals $100K Diamond In Bellevue

BELLEVUE, WA - A man posing as a member of the military stole a diamond ring worth $100,000 from a Bellevue jewelry store in February. But police were able to catch and arrest him in Vancouver - before he deployed to someplace farther away.

In late February, a man dressed in fatigues went to Diamonds Inc. along Main Street in downtown Bellevue. He told the clerk he was about to deploy overseas, but wanted to get his fiance a wedding ring first. He specifically wanted something with a diamond between 3 and 5 carats.

The clerk presented him the a 5.54 marquise diamond. He grabbed the rock out of her hand and ran out of the store. The store manager chased him, grabbing the thief by his fake fatigues. The thief hopped into a car and was dragged down the street clinging to the fatigues. The thief punched the manager in the face, causing him to fall onto the street.

However, the suspect left fingerprints at the scene. Police were able to identify him as a 26-year-old living in Vancouver. Unfortunately, he didn't have the diamond on him when police arrested him on a second-degree robbery charge. Police are still looking for the getaway driver.

And, police were able to confirm: the thief is definitely not in the armed services (and most likely not engaged).

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