WATERVILLE — Police are asking for public’s help in identifying a man who stole two valuable rings Tuesday from the L. Tardif Jeweler store at 62 Main St. downtown.

Police Chief Joseph Massey said Friday that the rings, with a total value of $5,000, are both 18-carat gold wedding bands with the name of the designer, Jabell, stamped on the inside. One ring has a very wide band and the other has a high arch and the insignia, L. Tardif, in addition to Jabell, stamped inside it.

“We’d like very much to identify this person and apprehend him and get those rings back,” Massey said.

Massey released a photo of the thief that police obtained from a surveillance camera at the jewelry store. He described the man as in his mid-30s and weighing about 200 pounds. He is about 6 feet tall or so, with dark hair and a mustache. During the theft, the man was wearing a blue jacket with the name “Dysart’s” on the back, Massey said.

Massey asked that anyone with information about the man to call police at 680-4700 or contact police on the department’s anonymous tipline through www.watervillepolice.org or on the department’s Facebook page.

The man started looking at the jewelry mid-afternoon Tuesday, Massey said, asking a sales clerk to see different pieces of jewelry as he edged closer to the store’s exit.

“All of a sudden, he bolted out the door with the two rings,” Massey said. “The store immediately called the police when the individual fled with the rings and we responded immediately; however, we weren’t able to locate him. Employees did not see which way he went. We didn’t have much to go on — just that brief description. We combed the area.”

Detective Joshua Woods is investigating the theft. The theft constitutes a class C felony, punishable by up to a $5,000 fine and up to five years in jail.

Amy Calder — 861-9247acalder@centralmaine.comTwitter: @AmyCalder17


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