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Police searching for missing jewels

Naomi Havlen
Aspen Times Staff Writer

Several pieces of jewelry worth $1,980 are still missing after the July 14 burglary of an Aspen costume jewelry store.

But according to one police report, one of the suspects arrested just after the crime has told police his friend convinced him to help in the burglary of Lanciani Travel Jewelry, at 402 S. Hunter Ave.

According to a search warrant, police interviewed Sean Aiston, 20, the morning of the crime. Aiston and Matthew Kahn, 19, were arrested in connection with the burglary after a witness told police she saw the men break into the store.



Aiston allegedly told police he and Matthew Kahn, 19, were camping at Lincoln Creek Campground the night of the crime and drove into Aspen to eat dinner.

Aiston allegedly told police that after dinner, he and Kahn were walking around Aspen when they passed Lanciani Travel Jewelry. Kahn commented that he “wanted” the jewelry in the window and he wanted Aiston to help him steal it, he said.




According to the affidavit, Aiston said after drinking one-third of a fifth of Bacardi rum at their campsite, he and Kahn went back to Aspen and parked around the corner from Lanciani. He said Kahn broke the jewelry store window and stole the jewelry while Aiston was the “lookout.”

Although police have completed a search of the black Ford Explorer registered to Kahn’s father, Donald Kahn of Libertyville, Ill., they only found a turquoise-colored bracelet and a bracelet with black and red stones. Of the total $3,500 worth of jewelry that was reported missing from the store, police believe $1,980 worth of earrings, bracelets and a necklace are still missing.

“It had to be dumped from somewhere,” said detective Jim Crowley. “It’s definitely missing from the store, and it’s definitely not in the car and not on those guys. We went and searched the area where they were arrested pretty thoroughly.”

The two men, both entering their junior years at the University of Colorado in Boulder, were arrested on Cooper Avenue. According to police reports, Aiston went into custody without a problem, but Kahn resisted arrest, claiming a bracelet he had with him he had just “bought off a guy around the corner.”

Crowley said Aiston claims not to know anything about where the rest of the jewelry is, since he thought the stolen goods were still in the car. Kahn refuses to speak to police and will not sign a form indicating he understands his Miranda rights.

Both men have been charged with second-degree burglary and theft, which are class four felonies. Kahn has also been charged with second-degree assault and resisting arrest.

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