A woman thought to have taken part in a string of jewelry store robberies including one in October in Sevierville has struck again - this time in North Carolina.
FBI authorities say the armed woman held up a Jared Vault shop on Monday in Mebane, N.C., located between Greensboro and Durham.
A male accomplice also is being sought.
The woman - or both robbers - are believed to have held up jewelry stores in Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. They often hit Jared Vault stores.
A woman robbed the Jared Vault store in the Five Oaks Outlet Mall the morning of Oct. 16, according to Bob Stahlke, Sevierville spokesman.
The robber entered just after the store opened, armed with a large caliber black and silver semiautomatic pistol. She ordered store employees to a back office and tied their hands with zip ties.
According to Stahlke, she put an undisclosed amount of jewelry into a brown shopping bag and fled. There were no injuries.
The Sevierville robber was described as white, 25-30 years old, wearing navy blue hospital scrubs, white shoes, a gray University of Alabama hat with the mascot elephant on the front and "Bama" on the back strap. She had red hair, possibly a wig, and light brown eyebrows. She carried a large silver purse.
Monday's robbery in North Carolina bore similarities to past robberies.
About 10:30 a.m. the female robber entered the jewelry store and showed that she had a handgun. She ordered two workers into a back room and tied their hands with zip ties, according to the FBI. She took "various items" from display cases and fled.
She was described as white, in her late 20s to early 30s and about 5 feet 8 inches and 130 pounds.
A male in his late 30s or early 40s who is about 6 feet tall and 250 pounds also has been seen in some of the holdups.
According to the FBI, besides the Sevierville and Mebane stores, these also have been targeted: Jared Jewelry in Bluffton, S.C., on Sept. 2, 2015; Reeds Jewelers in Panama City Beach, Fla. on Aug. 11, 2015; Zale’s Jewelry in Dawsonville, Ga., on Aug. 5, 2015; and Jared Jewelry in Woodstock, Ga., on April 29, 2015.
Surveillance photos appear to show the suspects using multiple vehicles of varying styles, according to the FBI.
Both suspects are considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information should call 800-225-5324.
