An investigation continues into the last week's smash-and-grab theft of as much as $600,000 in jewelry outside the Carson Nugget with enhancement of surveillance video, background checks on the victims and reports sent to other agencies, according to Carson City Sheriff's Department investigators.
The department sent video footage taken in the Nugget's west parking lot to the FBI office in Quantico, Va., to have the images enhanced, said detective Gary Matthews.
"We're trying to get a license plate from the enhanced FBI photos," Chief Deputy Steve Schuette said.
Matthews said the video shows the two thieves going directly to the car, breaking the driver's side window, pulling the back seat forward to access the trunk and grabbing five bags before they drove off.
The thieves were driving a gold or tan compact car.
Schuette said investigators are running background checks on the victims, jewelry salesmen who reported the value of the haul at $600,000.
"That's normal in this type of a case," he said.
One of the first things detectives did was send a Teletype to other agencies. A single a computerized report of the incident goes out to all departments in the region.
"That included what type of jewelry to look out for," Matthews said.
The jewelry consists of assorted gold chains, rings and pendants, with turquoise and other precious stones, Matthews said.
The owner of the jewelry, his wife and his main salesman left Los Angeles and made stops in Santa Barbara, Northern California, Reno and Virginia City before they paused for a meal in Carson City. They were eating in the Nugget Coffee Shop when the robbery occurred, according to police reports.
The owner's wife left the coffee shop to go check on the car and came back hysterical. She said she had seen two Hispanic men taking bags from their Nissan Altima, he said.
The lead investigator on the case, Detective Steven Johnson, is in Los Angeles on training. His trip is not related to the case, Matthews said.
There are no suspects being held in the case. The investigation is ongoing.
"There're a lot of unanswered questions in this case," he said.
The thieves are described as between the ages of 17 and 25. Anyone with information relating to the crime or suspects should contact Detective Steven Johnson of the Carson City Sheriff's Department at 887-2020 ext. 1408 or call Secret Witness at 322-4900.
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Anyone with information relating to the crime or suspects should contact Detective Steven Johnson of the Carson City Sheriff's Department at 887-2020 ext. 1408 or call Secret Witness at 322-4900.
