A warning to keep your car doors locked after $250,000 worth of jewelry was stolen from an unlocked car in Naples Tuesday.
It happened outside the Naples Art, Antique and Jewelry Show on Goodlette-Frank Road, which took place over the weekend and wrapped up on Tuesday. While few other details have been released, Barry Nicholls of Paradise Jewelry in Naples said that it's not uncommon for thieves to target merchants at those events - usually when they're leaving.
"My guess is they set up to look for that opportunity when they know you're coming out, because there's always going to be enhanced security at the show," Nicholls said.
He said that it's easy for thieves to know what to look for, since the shows usually advertise the expensive, big-ticket items that will be on display.
"You have to advertise it big so people get interested to come," Nicholls said. "But the bigger you advertise it, the more interested the crooks are, too."
Fox 4 reached out to the organizers of the Art, Antique and Jewelry Show for comment, and are still waiting to hear back.
While it's unclear how it unfolded in the incident in Naples, Nicholls said thieves often distract merchants who would normally be much more careful with a quarter of a million dollars in jewels.
"It's unusual that anybody deals in that volume of value without being very aware of their vulnerability, and taking precautions to prevent what happened," Nicholls said.
Anyone with information about the case can call the Naples Police Department at 239-213-4844.
