People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 December 1892 — A CLEVER THEFT. [ARTICLE]

A CLEVER THEFT.

B»-.r Omaha Jeweller Suffered * Lou of Genu and Watches Valued at •10r--000. Omaha, Neb. Nor. 25.—A boldly-ex-ecuted robbery that netted the thieve* HO,OOO occurred in Omaha Thursday morning. Jonasen’s jewelery store was the scene of tho crime, and the thieves are unknown, neither is there a clew to their identity. Wednesday a stranger called at Mr. Jonasen’s store on Farnam street and selected a mantel clock, paid one dollar, and left, saying that he would be back in the morning. About 10 o’clock Thursday forenoon, while most people were at home hiding from the gloominess of the day and the streets were almost deserted, he returned and asked for his clock. There was no one in the store except the watchmaker, and the stranger, on the pretext of looking over the stock, led him to the rear end ot the store behind a disused elevator shaft and engaged him in conversation. While they were there a confederate entered the store and went through the showcase. In the center of this case is a semi-circular plush cushion in which was a row of valuable diamond rings, studs, and pins. Outside of this was a row of solid gold watches. The door to the case in the rear was not locked and secured only with a bolt. The thief worked quickly and effectively. A dozen or more plush cases containing valuable jewelry lay next his hand as he opened the door of the case, but they were not touched, probably on account of their bulk The row of diamond rings was taken, only one of the twenty-seven being left. Fifteen gold watches in the row outside the rings were gathered up and three were taken from another portion of the case. Two diamond pins and five diamond studs are also missing. The aggregate value of the stolen property will not fall short of t. 10,000. The jeweler later noticed the vacant places in the showcase but had uo idea that the store had been robbed until Mr. Jonasen callie. down, when the police were notified and an alarm sent to all the officers in the city.