$5,000 bracelet stolen

A South Carolina woman is expected to be charged with the theft of a diamond bracelet from an Augusta jewelry store Monday morning, authorities said.

Late Monday, the Edgefield woman was being detained at the Edgefield County Sheriff's Department, a jail official said. She could face felony shoplifting charges after being transported to Augusta, said Richmond County sheriff's Investigator Michael Lanham.

The robbery occurred at about 10:30 a.m. when the 49-year-old woman walked into Windsor Jewelers, 2635 Washington Road and took a princess-cut diamond bracelet, Investigator Lanham said.

He said the woman told a clerk that she came to pick up a Christmas gift from her father. The clerk let the woman try on the bracelet before asking a store manager whether she was approved to receive the jewelry.

After a store official denied the request, police said the customer refused to return the bracelet, saying, "My father, Jesus Christ, said this is my Christmas present."

Investigator Lanham said the clerk described the woman as a "regular customer."

He said the bracelet was valued at more than $5,000.

Reach Timothy Cox at (706) 823-3217 or tim.cox@augustachronicle.com.