Jewelry Thief Stole Nearly $30K In Rings In 3 Days: Report

MILWAUKEE, WI — Authorities in Milwaukee say they've arrested an Indianapolis man after a string of jewelry thefts from metro Milwaukee jewelry stores. Police say that man, identified as Timothy M. Dodd, 21, of Indianapolis, had already been a convicted felon in Indiana, and was arrested with a firearm a day after his most recent heist.

Authorities say Dodd's jewelry heists totaled nearly $30,000 in three days.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Milwaukee County, each of the three jewelry thefts authorities say Dodd committed followed a similar pattern: Dodd would go into a jewelry store, and ask to see an expensive ring. Once he was handed the ring, he'd cook up a distraction, and then deny having possession of the ring before fleeing the store.

Here are the three incidents Dodd was involved in, according to prosecutors:

May 18:

Authorities responded to the Kay Jewelers at 5758 N. Bayshore Drive in Glendale on a report of a theft. When police investigated, they learned that an employee showed a customer, later identified as Dodd, a Leo Diamond ring valued at $5,899.

Authorities said the worker asked Dodd to give the ring back. Dodd responded by denying that he even had it, and then ran from the store. When police questioned Dodd, he admitted to gambling the ring away in a dice game.

June 5:

Police were called to the Rodgers and Hollands Jewelry store at 2500 N. Mayfair Road on a report of a theft. Police said the clerk was behind the counter on June 5 when Dodd walked up to her asking to compare two rings.

According to the criminal complaint, the clerk gave Dodd a diamond ring valued at $7,150 from the display case. When they walked over to compare the ring with a second ring, Dodd denied having the ring, and fled the store.

When police questioned Dodd about the ring, he told police he planned to give the ring to his girlfriend, but that it was stolen from him during a robbery.

July 1:

Police said Dodd was at it again on July 1 at Mayfair Mall. Police said they spoke with a clerk at Zales Jewelry store, who said Dodd wanted to look at diamond rings for his fiancee. According to the criminal complaint, once Dodd was handed the $16,669 ring, he denied having it and fled the store.

At the time of his arrest, Dodd admitted to taking the ring from Zales after it was recovered by authorities.

Dodd Arrested In Gun Incident

A day after the Zales incident, authorities say police caught up with Dodd. According to the criminal complaint, a woman called police saying Dodd was at her home on the 500 block of W. Garfield Ave., and had a gun.

When police arrived, they tried talking with Dodd, only to have him flee on foot. Police said officers managed to catch up with him to make the arrest.

Once taken into custody, Milwaukee police say Dodd had a Colt 1911 .45 caliber automatic pistol tucked in his shorts. Police say they also found the $16,669 ring that was taken from Zales the day before.

During a records check, authorities say Dodd was a convicted felon in the State of Indiana for a 2015 charge of armed robbery. Dodd is currently being held in the Milwaukee County Jail on a $1,250 cash bond. He's due next in court on July 12 for his preliminary hearing.

Dodd has been charged with three counts of retail theft and one charge of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon from another state.