Thieves steal thousands of precious gems in Pierce County robbery

The search is on in Pierce County for thousands of gemstones stolen during a car break in.

Pierce County Sheriff’s detectives say the victim left a metal briefcase in a truck parked at the Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place. The thief or thieves broke in and stole approximately 3,000 Oregon sunstone gemstones, two gold sunstone rings, thirty silver sunstone rings, a gold bracelet containing 34 multi-colored sunstones, an iPhone 4 and a Kindle Fire.

Detectives aren’t disclosing the value of the gems stolen.

Police say the thieves also stole a suitcase containing the victim’s son’s ashes during the April 9, 2013 robbery. Investigators say they were anonymously mailed back to the victim several days later.

Crimestoppers of Tacoma/Pierce County is offering a reward of up to $1,000 leading to the arrest and charges filed against the person responsible for the theft.