LEXINGTON—As the FBI continues to search for a woman wanted in North Carolina and several other states for robbing jewelry stores, the owner of one store in the Triad is on high alert.
Hayes Jewelers has been a fixture in Lexington for decades now.
"This jewelry store has been here for 75 years, with my father starting the store in 1939,” said owner Bruce Hayes. “We have probably the largest diamond inventory of any store in North Carolina."
To protect that inventory: a camera in every corner of Hayes' store.
"We even have them on the sign when you walk in, and all around the building,” he said. “So we can see them when they get out of the car. We constantly watch around the jewelry store, so we know what we're dealing with when they come in the front door."
Since hearing about the woman some are calling "the jogger jewelry thief,” Hayes says he's even more aware.
"We're constantly upgrading our security,” he said. “We see what's happening, and we're constantly on guard for what might come in. We've got 16 cameras here, so we're watching all around the store all day."
Also clearly posted on his front door: signs that say he's armed, and ready to shoot.
"We would, and at my age, I wouldn't care,” he said. “We're ready for them if they come in. We're prepared to take whatever action we need to take care of our safety and our customers' safety."
Hayes also works regularly with state and local law enforcement to get updates on jewlery store robbery suspects they're looking for.
"The police, sheriff, and FBI are in here constantly,” he said. “We're open 365 days a year, and watching for these people continuously."
The female suspect is in her late 20s to early 30s, stands about five feet, eight inches tall and weighs about 130 pounds.
Her possible accomplice is in his late 30s to early 40s, stands around six feet tall and weighs 250 pounds.
If you have information about them call 1-800-225-5324.