Police say the man in the video isn't just a thief, but a con-man. He gained the confidence of the store owners after coming into the gallery several times disguised as a customer. No weapon, no known accomplice. He just grabbed the necklace and was gone.
The suspect ran away with the diamond necklace worth nearly $26,000.
The thief managed to escape, but couldn't escape the surveillance cameras set up inside Ven and Vaida Gallery in Old City.
From the time he walked in the store and browsed the jewelry cases, to when he darted out the door, it's all caught on tape.
The owner and employee tried to catch up with him, but he was just too fast.
"Very fast…they were out that door and you have to be a marathon runner to get them," owner Karen Green said.
Green explains employees don't let just anyone handle the jewelry, but the man had visited three or four times before. She recalls he seemed distinguished, dressed the part, and never fixated on anything specific.
"He never really asked to see anything, just suggested he came into a sizable amount of money, 60,000, on a claim of some sort of lawsuit and wanted to buy something for his mother or grandmother," Green said.
The robbery happened back on March 31st, but only now are police releasing the surveillance footage hoping for new information.
Police describe the man in the video as African American, between 40 and 50 years old, 5'5, with salt and pepper hair who sometimes wears glasses. They also believe he's done this before.
"It was pretty well orchestrated. He knew what he was doing, he came in prior and the store felt comfortable with him," Lt. Patrick Doherty of Philadelphia Police said.
A $500 reward is being offered by the owner.
Anyone with information is asked to call Central Detectives at 215-686-3093.
