Diamond-theft gang hit Oak Mall

Susan Lochrie • Published 29 Mar 2010 14:00

A JEWELLER has fallen prey to a gang of professional crooks who swindled it out of an expensive diamond ring.

Greenock town centre McNeils Jewellers became the victims of a con carried out by tricksters posing as customers.

The thieves asked to see a diamond solitaire ring, worth a four-figure sum, before distracting the assistant in the Oak Mall, pictured, and swapping it for a fake.

It is the first crime of it's kind in Inverclyde but detectives believe there could be other local victims out there, they just don't know it yet.

Detective Sergeant Jim Mimnagh said: "We have never heard of a distraction crime of this kind taking place in this area or anywhere round about.

"I would warn other traders to be on their guard. It is unlikely that they are the only ones to be targeted.

"What has happened is highly unusual."

Like the victims in TV programme the Real Hustle, the thieves duped their victim, known as a mark, by gaining their trust and carrying out the distraction.

But the detective added: "People may feel silly but they shouldn't. This is a professional outfit. They knew what they were doing."

On Friday afternoon around 2pm two men and a woman, all of Middle Eastern appearance and speaking in a foreign language to each other, they came into the shop asking to see the ring.

After leaving with the expensive piece of jewellery, they made off out of the shop and were last seen heading for Hunter Place.

Greenock CID is now appealing for witnesses who were in the shop or around the Oak Mall and may have noticed anything unusual.

Both McNeils Jewellers and the Oak Mall declined the opportunity to comment on the theft.

If you have any information that may help police in their enquiries then contact Greenock CID on 492500 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 29 Mar 10

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