Portage Police are investigating the brazen theft on Wednesday of a jewelry display and tens of thousands of dollars in jewelry from the Kmart at 6050 U.S. Highway 6.

According to police, at 2:26 a.m. a male subject entered the store, in an incident captured by surveillance camera, and approached the jewelry counter. He then took “nearly 10 minutes” to cut the steel cable connecting the spinning jewelry display rack to the counter, during which time “several associates can be seen near the counter,” police said.

After severing the cable, the man placed the entire display—“with spider wrap still intact”—into his cart, covered the display with another piece of merchandise, and pushed the cart to a location near the east doors, police said. The man then exited the store and returned, after moving his vehicle closer to the doors, retrieved the display, and fled the scene, police said.

Although the display should have activated the door sensor, police said, “it is unknown” if it actually did so.”

“There was no outside footage of the vehicle due to the night manager’s placing the cameras in the associate parking area,” police added.

The jewelry display held approximately 200 pieces of gold over silver necklaces and assorted sterling silver pieces. Total estimated loss: $30,000.

The suspect was described as a white male in his mid-forties, 5’ 9’’ in height and 175-185 pounds in weight, wearing blue jeans, blue shirt, and black coat. He had receding brown hair.

Posted 1/19/2012